13 ProCut Sunflower Varieties to Plant From Seed in April

There are few things I love more than a bouquet of fresh flowers on my dining room table. Even better is being able to bring a beautiful arrangement to a friend to brighten their day. In the cutting garden, there are a multitude of options for your arrangements, but one of the most spectacular and impressive is the sunflower. 

These big, bright beauties stand alone in a bouquet or arrangement. Their large blooms held up on strong, sturdy stems have an exceptional vase life, lasting up to two weeks with proper care. They’re also easy to grow if you have a bright spot and the patience to keep critters away.

‘White Lite’

	botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘ProCut® White Lite’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 60”-72”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Unique and beautiful, ‘White Lite’ has a look all its own. These large, impressive blooms take center stage in your beds and in a vase. They grow up to six feet tall, with thick, single stems. Don’t pinch this cultivar, or you will ruin the bloom. 

The flowers are stunning. They are large with a bold, fuzzy, cushiony middle. Each head is single-petaled, and the petals are pale ivory, nearly white with just a kiss of golden glow toward the center. They are breathtaking and perfect for a summer wedding. These mature in just about two months. 

‘Gold Lite’

	botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘ProCut® Gold Lite’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 60”-80″
	hardiness zones 2-11

This fresh take on the classic yellow has some gorgeous qualities that make it stand out from the crowd. Up to six feet tall, the single bloom stems are thick and fuzzy, and the leaves are large, soft, and the perfect shade of medium green.

‘Gold Lite’ is flower perfection. The giant blooms are almost entirely gold with glowing petals and a matching middle. Directly in the middle of the fluffy center is a large green eye, which makes these recognizable and unique. They mature in just 55-65 days.

‘White Nite’

	botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘ProCut® White Nite’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 60”-72”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Where ‘White Lite’ has a golden glow in the center, ‘White Nite’ has a glorious, mysterious side. This ProCut® sunflower variety has dense cream ivory petals that are packed around a deep, chocolate-brown eye. The single-stemmed flowers are perfect for cutting and pollen-free, so there’s no mess involved. 

‘White Nite’ rivals the others in height, growing up to six feet tall. A bouquet of these large blooms is a fantastic sight. Branching varieties do best when you pinch them, but these are single-stemmed. Let them grow unhindered, and they will surprise you with blooms in just over two months. 

‘Red Lemon Bicolor’

	botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘ProCut® Red Lemon Bicolor’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 60”-72″
	hardiness zones 2-11

This five-foot beauty looks demure at first glance, but take a longer look. It is a true stunner once you take in the bicolored petals and deep, dark, almost black middle. It almost doesn’t look real—that’s how beautiful this flower is. 

The densely packed petals are a medium, creamy yellow, almost mustard. From the center to about mid-way, each petal has generous brushstrokes of deep ruby red. Expect these to begin to open, ready to cut, in about 55 days. 

‘Plum’

	botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘ProCut® Plum’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 60”-72”
	hardiness zones 2-11

If ‘Red Lemon Bicolor’ tickled your fancy, take a look at ‘Plum.’ This toned-down cultivar is a perfect complement for its bolder cousin. Rather than red to yellow, these blooms are a more subtle plum shade in the middle, fading to cream at the ends. 

This ProCut® sunflower variety has a similar, deep brown eye and lush, green foliage. These can reach upwards of six feet tall, and their six-inch flowers are pollenless. They mature quickly, blooming in just under two months. 

‘Bravo’

	botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘ProCut® Bravo’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 48”-72”
	hardiness zones 2-11

You will want to applaud this gorgeous hybrid, which was new on the scene in 2024. It’s a twist on the classic, with large blooms that have tons of deep yellow petals. A slight orange tint toward the center adds dimension and accentuates the texture. 

The centers are concentric circles of deep brown, olive green, and nearly back in the middle. These bloom just slightly behind the other varieties, so plant at the same time and harvest about a week later for an extra week of gorgeous arrangements. 

‘Red’

	botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘ProCut® Red’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 60”-72”
	hardiness zones 2-11

I am obsessed with deep red blooms this year, and ‘Red’ absolutely takes the cake. If you, too, are digging this shade for 2025, don’t pass up this glorious cultivar. 

The blooms are rich, rust with an oxblood ring around the center. There is a slight fading toward the tips of the petals that makes them look soft, silky, and velvety. An almost black middle adds more mystery to this spectacular variety, and the olive green foliage is simply divine. 

‘Orange Excel’

	botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘ProCut® Excel’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 60”-72”
	hardiness zones 2-11

‘Orange Excel’ is a variation of the earlier cultivar ‘Orange.’ They have a similar appearance, but ‘Orange Excel’ blooms about a week earlier. You won’t even have to wait two months for these glowing beauties. 

This variety’s blooms are classic and gorgeous. The chocolate center is extra large and plush but pollenless. Short, well-formed petals stand out stiffly around the middle. It’s a cheerful, extra early-flowering variety. 

‘Lemon’

	botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘ProCut® Lemon’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 60”-72”
	hardiness zones 2-11

‘Lemon’ is a simple but classic cultivar that coordinates perfectly with ‘Red.’ The juxtaposition of shades with a dark center in common makes this a lovely pairing. Several other ProCut® sunflower varieties come from this one, making it a tried-and-true veteran. 

A large, bold, deep brown eye commands attention with its presence. There is no denying that this flower has personality. Short, lemon-yellow petals stand out stiffly and frame things to make an ideal bloom. 

‘Brilliance’

	botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘ProCut® Brilliance’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 48”-72”
	hardiness zones 2-11

‘Brilliance’ is a sport of ‘Lemon’ and is a wonderful companion or standalone in your cut arrangements. You’ll love this stunning plant in your cutting garden, and anywhere else it fits in. 

This is a twist on the class. While ‘Lemon’ has pure yellow petals that are on the short side, ‘Brilliance’ has slightly longer petals that encircle the chocolate center. The petals are yellow at the tips but gradually deepen to orange near the center. 

‘Peach’

	botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘ProCut® Peach’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 60”-72”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Pretty pretty ‘Peach’ is as sweet as they come. Where many cultivars in the same color family are bright and brassy, this one has a sweet softness. The dark center is smaller, with more pronounced petals. The petals are somewhere between yellow and orange, with a slightly deeper shade towards the center. 

I am growing this cultivar in my own yard this year, and I can’t wait to see the stunning results. It’s a tall variety, but the blooms are more petite than others that match its height. 

‘Horizon’

	botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘ProCut® Horizon’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 64”-72”
	hardiness zones 2-11

‘Horizon’ is another ProCut® sunflower variety that makes it difficult to decide whether I would want to cut it or leave it in the garden. It’s a classic cultivar with a dark brown disc in the center. The petals are bold orange and longer than some others. 

This variety is distinct from the rest. The blooms open wide and flat, facing upward toward the sky. This gives them the appearance of leaning back slightly, as if to look to the horizon. 

‘Orange Splendor’

	botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘ProCut® Orange Splendor’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 48”-72”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Fast growing and early to bloom, ‘Orange Splendor’ is a perfect way to round out our list. It’s a classic orange variety with a slight nuance to the color. It also looks up toward the sky with its large brown eye that has an olive green center.