Bad Pollen Allergy? Try Growing These Pollenless Sunflower Varieties

It's late summer, and you're finally ready to snip your beautiful sunflowers and bring them inside. They look wonderful in a bouquet, but by the next morning, the vase is surrounded by a thin layer of yellow dust — the sunflower's pollen — and you can't stop sneezing. After an allergic response, you might think your sunflower-growing days are over. But thanks to creative breeding practices, there are plenty of pollenless sunflower varieties available that are perfect for a cut flower garden and won't stress your sinuses or stain your countertops.

Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) thrive in full sun and are often mass planted in shimmering gold fields that serve as striking introductions to the autumn season. While some varieties are grown for their seeds, which can be used to make oils, birdseed, or even tasty snacks for humans, others have been carefully bred for sterility, meaning they don't produce pollen or form seeds on their own. 

These varieties have become staples in cut flower gardens, where blooms are grown specifically for harvest and display. But there are some drawbacks. Without seeds or pollen, these flowers can't provide necessary food for birds and bees, although insects will still visit them for their nectar. However, these flowers can be pollinated if there's a fertile variety nearby. So if you're hoping to bring more pollinators to your yard and garden, you may want to choose a cultivar that produces pollen. But if you're planning to spend your summer filling bouquets, consider planting these pollenless sunflower varieties — you won't regret it.

'Buttercream' sunflowers are a popular pollenless variety. Reaching 4 to 5 feet tall, this annual cultivar is an early bloomer that can be sown directly in the garden right after the last frost for mid-summer color. Narrow, pale-yellow petals surround the dark centers of these blooms, which appear after about 50 days. They produce multiple flower heads per plant, and their upright yet bushy nature makes them a great gap-filler. However, you'll still want to leave at least 18 inches of space for this plant to mature. Encourage bushier growth by pinching back the main stalk at the first sign of branching.

Despite the name, 'Bashful' sunflowers are anything but timid. These delicate, single-petaled blossoms are known for their light peachy color and warm orange accents, which stand out against deep brown centers. Young buds emerge pale but mature to reveal their striking orange edges, forming a bright ring at the center of the flower. Although the plant only grows to about 3 feet tall, its large, 4- to 5-inch blooms and branching nature make it a great border to complement taller, single-stalk varieties. 'Bashful' sunflowers benefit from early pruning to encourage a bushier habit, leaving you with plenty of bouquet material through late summer.

'Claret' sunflowers certainly know how to bring the drama. Reaching nearly 6 feet tall, these stunning pollen-free flowers are coveted for their thin, pointed petals and deep burgundy coloring — a nod to their namesake, claret wine. Anchored by chocolatey-brown centers, these large, 6-inch blossoms are a regal sight in the garden and the bouquet. Young blooms often feature a bright yellow ring around the central florets, but this vibrant detail tends to fade as the flower matures. 'Claret' sunflowers are also a prolific branching variety, so you won't run out of these stunners anytime soon.

If you have a sweet tooth, 'Chocolate Cherry' sunflowers may just be the treat you need. Though they don't taste like chocolate, these deliciously elegant blooms showcase deep, velvety shades of red, burnt umber, and brown. Petals often have an ombre effect, fading from dark centers to light red tips. Colors can shift as the flower matures, creating a diverse palette that stands out against the light green, and sometimes purple-tipped, foliage. Growing to a maximum height of 7 feet, this branching variety is a prolific rebloomer, making it a showstopping addition to any garden. 

Perhaps one of the most recognizable varieties, 'Del Sol' sunflowers are a pretty spot-on representation of the classic sunflower look in a pollen-free form. Bright yellow petals surround medium-brown disks, accented by a nearly black center. This well-known variety easily reaches 5 to 6 feet tall and is usually topped with a single bloom, so pinching early stems isn't necessary. Besides their traditional appearance, these sunflowers are beloved for their quick growth and long stems, making them ideal for bouquets. They're also one of the fastest bloomers — their strong blossoms are often ready to cut in 40 to 50 days.

'Double Dandy' sunflowers may be one of the most unique pollenless varieties available. Besides its dynamic coloring, this hybrid cultivar is extremely compact, making it a favorite for container cut flower gardens. Considered a dwarf variety, 'Double Dandy' only grows about 2 or 3 feet tall. Its size, however, has no bearing on its blooms: Prolific, double-petaled mauve flower heads measuring 4 or 5 inches wide bloom continuously on branching stems from early summer through fall. Its quick maturity, around 45 days, means you'll be harvesting these blossoms long before the rest of your sunflowers are ready. 

With fluffy-looking inner petals and a glowing green center, 'Double Quick Orange' sunflowers are truly a treat for the eyes. These single-stem bloomers are fully double-petaled, which gives the flower a robust, fuzzy appearance and can even extend the length of the bloom. The blossom's showy nature and warm orange color make it a favorite in flower arrangements, and its early blooming nature means you'll be enjoying this beauty by mid-summer. Since this is a single-stem variety, it does not need to be pinched back and can be planted much closer together than branching varieties. 

The semi-dwarf 'Firecracker' sunflower is a fan favorite that's easy to find in most seed catalogs. This prolific branching variety is known for sustaining more blooms at one time than many others. Bursting with orange tips and red-gold streaks around its dark center, these bicolor flowerheads measure about 4 to 6 inches wide. The plant itself generally stays under 4 feet tall, making it popular for containers. However, the plant won't produce as many flowers if the container is too small, so make sure to leave the roots ample room by choosing a pot at least 8 inches wide for each plant.

Conjuring images of medieval harlequins, 'Joker' sunflowers feature a shocking contrast of red and yellow. Thin, bright petals embellish the rim of this semi-double flower's wide, brown centers, while larger bicolor petals extend behind them. Reaching up to 7 inches wide, these impressive flowers form on branching, 5- to 7-foot stalks and are generally ready to cut 60 to 70 days after germination. As a taller branching cultivar, 'Joker' sunflowers may benefit from staking to ensure they stay upright until maturity. Although this variety may bloom later in the season, its long flowering window means you can enjoy flowers well into fall. 

At under 2 feet tall, 'Junior' is a popular dwarf sunflower variety. Its compact habit makes it perfect for containers, while its multi-headed flower stalks provide plenty of vase material. 'Junior' blossoms showcase the classic sunflower look with brown centers and vivid yellow-orange petals. Plant them close together in front of taller sunflower varieties. They take about 50 days to mature, but you'll be pleasantly rewarded for your patience with continuous blooms through early fall. Pinching the main stalk at the first sign of branching may help produce a bushier, but possibly even shorter, plant.

Pollen allergy sufferers rejoice — The delicate and pale 'Moonshadow' sunflower variety is coveted for its infertile, smaller blooms and creamy white color, which stand out against its deep brown center. Blossoms are just 3 to 5 inches wide, atop heavy-branched, 4-foot stalks. Each branch may produce multiple flowerheads, and blooms often top stems no longer than a few inches. This makes them a popular choice for smaller projects, such as corsages or tabletop centerpieces. Blooms arrive early and keep coming all season, especially when harvested consistently. 

Praised by commercial growers for its stunning coloring, the large blooms of the 'Moulin Rouge' emerge with an orange glow before rolling out the red carpet for their mature, dark burgundy petals and a deep brown center. Sometimes marketed as 'Rouge Royale,' the 5- to 6-foot plants are heavily branched and produce copious blooms. The flower on the main stalk is usually the biggest, and its stem the tallest, so pinch this back early to encourage branched blooms to grow larger. Plants usually take 60 to 65 days to reach maturity, but they'll continue to flower until temperatures drop in the fall. 

Similar to the 'Junior' variety, 'Munchkin' sunflowers are a container and garden border favorite for their compact, branching habit. However, instead of dark brown, 'Munchkin' sunflowers feature greenish-yellow centers that give the flower a softer look. They also tend to mature early and may be ready to cut after just 40 to 45 days. Reaching about 2 feet tall, this dwarf variety is known for its long-lasting blooms, which are usually only a few inches wide. Pinching spent stems back just after flowering may help additional branches form and extend the overall life of the plant.

'Peach Passion' sunflowers are unique for their pastel peachy centers and creamy yellow petals. Although this branching variety only grows to about 3 feet, it produces waves of long-lasting flowers that continue through the end of summer. Despite being pollen-free, bees love visiting this variety for its nectar, and most of the flowers grow to include a double layer of petals. To accommodate its long bloom period and branching spread, give this variety plenty of space — around 18 to 24 inches. Despite its smaller size, 'Peach Passion' may take 50 to 60 days to mature. 

Bred specifically for cutting, the 'Pro-Cut' series is a favorite among growers. Known for their high germination rates, straight stalks, and large, early-blooming flowers, these plants come in more than a dozen different varieties and shades. Some of your favorite pollenless varieties may even have a 'Pro-Cut' counterpart; for example, if you love 'Moonshadow,' keep an eye out for 'Pro-Cut White Nite,' which shares similar pale petals with a dark center. Many of these plants grow to heights of 6 or 7 feet and boast dinner plate-sized blooms. Despite their size, they're quick to mature — often ready to cut in less than 60 days.

'Ruby Eclipse' is a showstopping pollenless sunflower variety with a dark, nearly black center surrounded by plum accents and peachy petal tips. This branching cultivar is a stunner in the garden and the bouquet, blooms after just 50 to 60 days, and produces blooms for a long period. The plant, which grows to 5 to 6 feet tall, is a prolific brancher and benefits from frequent deadheading. Planting multiple seeds closer together may lead to smaller blooms, so give this variety plenty of room if you want to enjoy the full glory of these 4- to 6-inch bicolor blossoms.

Showcasing a variety of warm red, orange, pale yellow, and plum shades, 'Santa Fe Sunset' sunflowers cover the full palette of a Southwestern evening. Growing up to 6 feet tall, this bi- and sometimes tri-color cultivar is considered multi-headed rather than branching, meaning it produces multiple flowerheads from the central stalk. However, branching may still occur if the plant has enough room, especially if the central stalk is pinched back early. This gorgeous variety isn't an early bloomer, though, so don't get discouraged if it takes 60 to 75 days to mature.

'Starburst Lemon Aura' sunflowers are a popular addition to any garden for their large, double-petaled flowers. Although the plant itself only grows to about 5 feet tall, its heavily branched stems support flowerheads that can reach up to 8 inches in diameter when given enough room to mature. Their green centers make their pale, lemon-yellow petals seem even brighter. Blooms may take anywhere between 60 and 70 days to mature, but once they arrive, these long-lasting blossoms with extended individual stems are perfect for the vase.

'Strawberry Blonde' sunflowers are a unique bi-color variety with dark centers and strawberry-red petals fringed by pale yellow tips. This is one variety that can sometimes be found both pollenless and fertile, so make sure to check the package of the seeds you buy; the fertile variety produces tasty seeds that are a favorite for birds and squirrels. Growing to 6 feet tall, this branching cultivar provides plenty of long-stemmed offshoots that are the perfect size for vases and bridal bouquets. These fast-growing plants often mature after just 60 days and will continue blooming until cool weather hits.

Branching sunflowers are among the best types of sunflowers to grow for the most gorgeous bouquets, and this variety fits the bill. 'Sunbeam' sunflowers are a bright beam of sunshine in the garden and the vase. This pollenless, branching variety features a wide, green, and gold center and slightly smaller petals, but that doesn't mean the flower itself is lacking in size. Most blooms are at least 6 inches in diameter and may grow larger when given ample room. However, since plants only reach 2 to 3 feet in height, it can be helpful to stake or provide support for heavy flowerheads to prevent drooping.

'Sunbright' sunflowers are coveted for their uniformity and ability to tolerate shorter days and cooler temperatures, making them ideal for areas with a condensed summer growing period. This single-stem variety can be planted in groups or individually, and most stalks will reach about 5 to 6 feet. Compact blooms of about 4 to 6 inches have brown centers and slightly rounded, short yellow petals. This sterile variety may take up to 70 to 80 days to reach maturity when planted in an area with long, hot summer days, so early succession planting is recommended for a continuous harvest.

'Sunrich Gold,' part of the larger 'Sunrich' series of hybrid sunflowers, performs well in both commercial and home gardens. One of the more common cultivars of the series, this sunflower features golden petals and greenish-yellow centers on its uniform, 4- to 6-inch flowerheads. Although it's a single-stem variety, the 4- to 5-foot plant does well when planted in fields. Oversized bracts, the green leaves directly behind the sunflower's head, can sometimes push petals forward, creating a dynamic, 3-D look, with no pollen allergies in sight.

Like something straight out of a painting, 'Van Gogh' sunflowers are regal, large-headed hybrids with bright yellow petals and wide orange disks that fade to lime green centers. Growing 4 to 5 feet tall, this single-stem cultivar is stunning when succession-planted in rows. Thick stalks don't normally need staking, and robust flowerheads are not quick to droop if left on the stem. Allow at least 60 to 70 days for this pollenless variety to reach maturity. 

Closing out the group of pollenless varieties is 'Zebulon,' a semi-dwarf star of a sunflower. Growing just 2 to 3 feet tall, this single-stalk variety is known for its golden petals, yellow disks, and mesmerizingly patterned green centers. Despite its small size, this cultivar can produce flowerheads up to 6 inches wide, making it ideal for large bouquets and arrangements. The European-bred hybrid matures after just 60 days, so it's a good candidate for succession planting.