Common Sunflower

We recommend adding sunflower. Our Common Sunflower has a robust root system that captures available soil nutrients and supports mycorrhizal fungi, which benefit the crops that follow. It is a good addition to multi-species blends such as our Cover Crop Plus Summer mix.

Plant our Common Sunflower once soil temperatures are over 14°C, typically from spring into summer, depending on your district. Sunflowers are frost sensitive, so wait until the frost risk has passed. Sow into good moisture for reliable establishment, especially in the wheatbelt.

Sow our Common Sunflower at 5–8 kg/ha as a single species. In a multi-species cover crop the sunflower rate is usually reduced to suit the other components. Our Custom Mix service can work out the right proportion for you.

Our Common Sunflower suits areas with 350mm+ rainfall and performs best on heavier soils. It survives best at soil pH above 5, so lime acidic soils before sowing. Good soil moisture at sowing and some follow-up rain help it establish and grow its deep, robust root system.

Our guide lists some waterlogging tolerance for our Common Sunflower, but sunflowers generally prefer well-drained soil, so we would avoid paddocks that stay wet for long periods. Heavier soils suit it best. Talk to us about your paddock before sowing.

Sunflower is a good nutrient scavenger. Its robust root system captures available nutrients that might otherwise be lost, and it supports mycorrhizal fungi that improve nutrient uptake for later crops. Combine our Common Sunflower with legumes such as Buff or Ebony Cowpeas and our Buckwheat for a broader cover crop.

We usually pair Common Sunflower with warm-season species such as Shirohie Millet, Buff or Ebony Cowpeas, Dash Lablab and Buckwheat. The legumes fix nitrogen, the grasses add biomass, and sunflower's deep roots add diversity below ground. Our Cover Crop Plus Summer mix is a ready-made option, and we can build a Custom Mix.

Sunflowers are usually grown for soil benefits, but stock can graze a cover crop that includes our Common Sunflower as part of a mixed diet. As with any new feed, introduce animals gradually, and graze while plants are still leafy and before they become coarse and stalky.

Our Common Sunflower is sold as a cover crop and mix component rather than a grain hybrid. It is chosen for its robust roots, nutrient capture and support for mycorrhizal fungi. If you want a sunflower for grain production, talk to us about your needs.

We suggest our Common Sunflower. It adds height and a robust root system to a summer mix, and supports soil fungi. Plant once soil is above 14°C, at 5–8 kg/ha on its own, in areas with 350mm+ rainfall and pH above 5. It also works well alongside our Cover Crop Plus Summer mix.