Mongolian Giant Sunflower Seeds

Mongolian Giant Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is one of the finest plants you can grow for feeding wild birds naturally. Towering 10 to 14 feet tall under good growing conditions, these impressive giants produce enormous flower heads packed with thousands of oil-rich seeds that become a magnet for backyard birds from late summer well into autumn. Beyond their value as bird food, the towering stalks create a dramatic backdrop for vegetable gardens, wildlife plantings, and natural landscapes while their bright golden blooms attract bees and other beneficial pollinators throughout the flowering season.

As the seed heads mature, the garden quickly becomes alive with activity. American Goldfinches cling effortlessly to the seed heads while extracting the tiny kernels, Cardinals crack the larger seeds with their powerful beaks, and Chickadees, Nuthatches, Titmice, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, and many native sparrows all visit to enjoy the abundant harvest. Even after birds have removed much of the seed, squirrels and other wildlife often finish what remains, making this one of the most productive wildlife plants a gardener can grow.

Mongolian Giant Sunflowers are remarkably easy to grow from seed in full sun with average garden soil. Plant after danger of frost has passed and provide adequate moisture during early growth for the tallest plants and largest flower heads. Although many gardeners harvest the seed for winter bird feeding, we often recommend leaving at least a portion of the crop standing. Watching birds harvest the seeds naturally from the towering flower heads is one of the greatest pleasures of autumn gardening, and the dried stalks continue providing structure and shelter well into winter.

Harvesting for Bird Food: Allow the flower heads to mature completely on the plant until the backs of the heads turn yellow to brown and the seeds become fully developed. Heads may then be cut and dried in a well-ventilated location before storing the seeds for winter feeders, or simply leave the mature heads standing outdoors and allow wild birds to harvest them naturally throughout the fall and winter. Either method provides an excellent source of high-energy food when birds need it most.

Seedman Notes

If we could recommend only one plant for a backyard bird garden, Mongolian Giant Sunflower would be among our very first choices. Few plants provide as much food for as many different bird species while also bringing beauty, pollinators, and wildlife into the garden. Every autumn, we look forward to watching Goldfinches hanging upside down from the seed heads, Cardinals patiently cracking open the larger seeds, and flocks of happy birds turning the garden into one of nature's busiest feeding stations. Sometimes the best bird feeder is simply a sunflower left standing where it grew.

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