This contest is all about beautifying our neighborhood, supporting local pollinators, and fostering a friendly sense of competition among neighbors. By planting sunflowers, we can transform Shaw Butte into a vibrant, golden corridor for everyone to enjoy.

Contest Overview

  • Objective: To encourage outdoor activity, enhance curb appeal, and strengthen community ties through a shared gardening project

  • Timeline:

    • Seed Swap Kickoff: Residents will have three opportunities to pick up seeds—

    • Planting: Begins in March.

    • Progress Updates: Neighbors are encouraged to post photos on Nextdoor or social media using the hashtag #ShawButteSunflowers to track their growth.

    • Final Judging: in June/July (depending on local bloom cycles).

    • Awards Ceremony: Winners will be announced at the August Block Watch Meeting, with potential prizes to be announced.

Why Sunflowers?

Sunflowers are resilient, drought-tolerant (perfect for our climate), and provide a vital food source for birds and bees. Most importantly, they are a visual symbol of positivity and growth—exactly what we want for Shaw Butte!

Rules & Guidelines

  • Location: All sunflowers must be grown within the Shaw Butte Neighborhood boundaries and be visible from the sidewalk/street for judging.

  • Authenticity: Plants must be organic and grown from seed (no artificial supports higher than the plant itself).

  • Submission: Participants must submit a photo of their entry via the SBNA website or social media page by the "Last Bloom" deadline.

  • Judging: A panel of SBNA members and local garden enthusiasts will conduct a "walk-by" judging for the finalists.

Contest Categories

Participants can enter their prize-winning plants into the following categories:

The Sky-Scraper

The tallest sunflower measured from the base of the stalk to the top of the head.

The Dinner Plate

The largest diameter of a single sunflower head (seed area only).

The Multi-Bloomer

The highest quantity of distinct sunflower heads on a single primary stalk.

The Show-Stopper

Voted "Most Beautiful" based on color, symmetry, and overall health.

The Junior Green Thumb

Best sunflower grown by a neighbor under the age of 12.

The Bee’s Knees

A special award for the garden that best integrates sunflowers with other pollinator-friendly plants.

2026 Contest Sunflower Varieties

All photos and information courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds at rareseeds.com.

Mexican Arcadian Blend

(Tithonia rotundifolia). Care-free wildflower tangerine, crimson and canary colored blooms. This is native from Mexico to South America and attracts tons of beneficial insects and pollinators. Well-branched plants stand 4-7 feet tall and are smothered in 3-inch blooms.

  • Annual

  • 4-7' tall

  • 98-100 days to maturity

  • 8-12 hours of full sun

  • Sprouts in 7-14 days

  • Seed Depth: Lightly cover, as light is required for germination.

  • Plant Spacing: 18-24"

  • Ideal Temperature: 60-65 F

  • Frost Hardy: No

Ring of Fire

(Helianthus annuus). A blazing, bicolored sunflower with mahogany centers and scarlet-stained petals with golden tips. These multi-branching plants reach 4 to 5 feet tall and spread about 2 to 3 feet. The blooms reach 5 to 6 inches across. Get the pollinator party started with this All America’s Select Award winner.

  • Annual

  • 4-5 feet tall

  • Sprouts in 7–10 days

  • Days to harvest: 75–90 days

  • 6–10 hours of full sun

  • Planting depth: 1/2 to 1 inch

  • Plant spacing: 12 to 18 inches

  • Height at maturity: 4–5 feet

  • Ideal temperature: 70°F to 85°F

  • Frost hardy? No

Double Sunking

(Helianthus annuus). A super cheerful, fully double sunflower that is top choice for arrangements! It reaches 6 feet tall with plush, soft, fluffy golden heads. Extra- long vase life and lower pollen count make this a superb choice for cutting gardens and floral design.

  • Annual

  • 6 feet tall

  • 80-100 days to maturity

  • 8-12 hours of full sun

  • Sprouts in 7-14 days

  • Seed Depth: 1/2"

  • Plant Spacing: 18-24"

  • Ideal Temperature: 65-75 F

  • Frost Hardy: No

Taiyo

(Helianthus annuus). An old Japanese variety grown for cut-flower use. Equally attractive in arrangements or in mass plantings in the garden. The tall, non-branching plants produce a single large flower in tones of yellow to orange, chocolate and sable. Florists adore the 8- to 10-inch flowers!

  • Annual

  • 6-7 feet tall

  • 75-90 days to maturity

  • 8-12 hours of full sun

  • Sprouts in 7-14 days

  • Seed Depth: 1/2"

  • Plant Spacing: 18-24"

  • Ideal Temperature: 60-75 F

  • Frost Hardy: No

Titan

(Helianthus annuus). Massive, record-setting flower heads have reached a fantastic 24 inches across in some areas. One of the largest you can grow, it also produces lots of really big seeds. Fun for the kids and adults as well.

  • Annual

  • 10-14 feet tall

  • 90-110 days to maturity

  • 8-12 hours of full sun

  • Sprouts in 7-14 days

  • Seed Depth: 1/2"

  • Plant Spacing: 18-24"

  • Ideal Temperature: 65-75 F

  • Frost Hardy: No

Lemon Queen

(Helianthus annuus). A favorite! Beautiful, lemon-yellow blooms with chocolate centers. This one is unique; tall plants produce many brilliant blooms that are a favorite of many bees.

  • Annual

  • 5-7 feet tall

  • 70-90 days to maturity

  • 8-12 hours of full sun

  • Sprouts in 7-14 days

  • Seed Depth: 1/2"

  • Plant Spacing: 18-24"

  • Ideal Temperature: 65-75 F

  • Frost Hardy: No

Mammoth Grey

(Helianthus annuus). The standard giant variety that produces delicious seeds. The 10-foot plants produce heads that average 12 inches across. A stately garden plant.

  • Annual

  • Up to 10 feet tall

  • 90-100 days to maturity

  • 8-12 hours of full sun

  • Sprouts in 7-14 days

  • Seed Depth: 1/2"

  • Plant Spacing: 18-24"

  • Ideal Temperature: 65-75 F

  • Frost Hardy: No

Chocolate Cherry

(Helianthus annuus). The petals of Chocolate Cherry sunflower range from deep obsidian to rich chocolate and black cherry and burst forth from deep onyx centers like a supernova. Some blooms have a vibrant yellow ring, or corona, around the pollen disk. Please note that some plants may produce orange-yellow or lighter color blooms. This multi-branching variety stands 6 to 7 feet in height and the heads average 5 to 8 inches across. This is a top choice for garden design or cut flower sales, thanks to a long vase life and lower pollen count than other heirloom sunflowers. Please note, a small portion of the sunflower blooms will throw some off-type colors.

  • Annual

  • 6-7 feet tall

  • 65-75 days to maturity

  • 8-12 hours of full sun

  • Sprouts in 7-14 days

  • Seed Depth: 1/2"

  • Plant Spacing: 16"

  • Ideal Temperature: 60-75 F

  • Frost Hardy: No

Hopi Black Dye

(Helianthus annuus). A brilliant obsidian black-seeded sunflower used for making natural dye, perfect for coloring food and clothing. This traditional variety has been saved and used by the Hopi Native American people for dying cotton, wool, and other fibers in making iconic Hopi basketry. These medium-to-large sunflower heads are striking in the garden, and the simple dye making process yields stellar shades from dove gray to deep purple, depending on the technique and materials used. A multipurpose variety, the food and fodder merits of this beautiful variety should not be overlooked. Reaches about 8 feet tall.

  • Annual

  • Up to 8 feet tall

  • 90-100 days to maturity

  • 8-12 hours of full sun

  • Sprouts in 7-14 days

  • Seed Depth: 1/2"

  • Plant Spacing: 18-24"

  • Ideal Temperature: 65-75 F

  • Frost Hardy: No

Teddy Bear

(Helianthus annuus). Beautiful 3- to 6-inch double, deep yellow blooms. Plants grow to only 18 to 24 inches tall, and the double blooms are adorably distinctive! This is a superb variety.

  • Annual

  • 18-24 inches tall

  • 60-70 days to maturity

  • 8-12 hours of full sun

  • Sprouts in 7-14 days

  • Seed Depth: 1/2"

  • Plant Spacing: 18-24"

  • Ideal Temperature: 65-75 F

  • Frost Hardy: No