About this variety
What to expect from Ring of Fire
Ring of Fire Sunflower seeds produce red bloom on 49–60 in upright/erect plants. Annual growth and Summer/Fall bloom make it useful for sunny borders, cut flowers, pollinator use, seed heads, and seed saving.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Ring of Fire Sunflower seeds produce red bloom on 49–60 in upright/erect plants. Annual growth and Summer/Fall bloom make it useful for sunny borders, cut flowers, pollinator use, seed heads, and seed saving.
About Ring of Fire
Ring of Fire is an annual sunflower with red color, 49–60 in mature height or spread, and an upright/erect habit. Harvest form or size: Flower or head form characteristic of Ring of Fire; mature plant 49–60 in. Botanically it is Helianthus annuus. Maturity or first bloom: 70-79 Days; germination: 7-14 Days at 65–80 °F. Best for sunny borders, cut flowers, pollinator use, seed heads, and seed saving. Ornamental bloom and mature seed use depend on the named strain and harvest stage.
History and provenance
Ring of Fire is a branching bicolor sunflower introduced to gardeners as an All-America Selections winner in 2001. Its flowers combine golden petal tips with a mahogany-red ring around the dark center, and the branching plant produces multiple stems rather than one giant single head. That combination makes it useful for garden display and cutting while still providing mature seed heads for birds when flowers are left to ripen. Regular cutting or deadheading can extend display, while selected heads must remain on the plant to finish seed for saving.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Helianthus annuus |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity / first bloom | 70-79 Days |
| Germination | 7-14 Days at 65–80 °F |
| Seed depth | 1 in |
| Plant height / spread | 49–60 in |
| Growth habit | Upright/Erect |
| Spacing | 12 in between plants; 30 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Ring of Fire from seed
How to grow Ring of Fire Sunflower
Botanical identity: Helianthus annuus. Life cycle: Annual.
Sow 1 in and use a seed-zone temperature near 65–80 °F. Expected emergence: 7-14 Days. Use clean seed-starting conditions, the listed depth and temperature, and steady moisture without saturation.
Plant during Late Spring. Space plants 12 in apart with 30 in between rows or planting bands.
Provide Full sun, moderate water, and loamy near pH 6.0–6.5. Support: No-Support.
Garden performance and care
For a longer display of Ring of Fire, remove spent blooms unless seed is being saved. Give the plant its listed spacing, cut flowers with clean tools, and leave selected heads to mature fully for seed. Expected emergence is 7-14 Days; the listed maturity or bloom timing is 70-79 Days.
Harvest, bloom, and uses
Ring of Fire is suited to sunny borders, cut flowers, pollinator use, seed heads, and seed saving. Its red flowers and 49–60 in stature help determine whether it belongs in a border, cutting row, container, meadow edge, or restoration-style planting. Ornamental bloom and mature seed use depend on the named strain and harvest stage.
Saving seed
Save seed from several healthy, true-to-type Ring of Fire plants identified before harvest. Confirm the pollination system of Helianthus annuus, separate compatible varieties that flower together, and remove clear off-types before they shed pollen or seed. Allow fruit, pods, ears, or seed heads to reach full biological maturity, then clean and dry the seed completely. Label the lot with variety, source, year, isolation method, number of seed plants, and any selection notes; store it cool, dark, and dry and test germination before an important planting.
Common problems
Common concerns: damping-off from saturated media; poor emergence from wrong temperature or depth; leggy seedlings from weak light; crowding and weak airflow; lodging in wind or rain; feeding damage from slugs, caterpillars, beetles, or mammals; foliar disease under prolonged leaf wetness; bird or squirrel feeding on maturing heads; stem lodging on giant plants. Management: use clean media, the sowing depth and temperature, strong light, appropriate thinning, and morning irrigation at soil level. Match support to plant height before wind becomes a problem. Inspect regularly and use the least disruptive control appropriate to the pest, plant, and pollinator setting. Remove diseased debris and rotate annual flower beds where recurring disease is severe.
Frequently asked questions
When is Ring of Fire ready?
70-79 Days from sowing to the primary bloom or market stage used for the listed maturity range
How long does germination take?
Expect 7-14 Days near 65–80 °F; actual emergence changes with moisture, seed condition, and soil temperature.
How large does it grow?
About 49–60 in with an upright/erect habit. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container?
Possible in a large container, raised bed, or in-ground planting with room for the mature plant
How is it used?
Primary role: Sunny borders, cut flowers, pollinator use, seed heads, and seed saving. Ornamental bloom and mature seed use depend on the named strain and harvest stage.
Can I save seed?
Yes where the crop biology allows, but keep compatible varieties isolated, use several healthy plants, wait for full seed maturity, dry thoroughly, and label the lot.
Minimum Seed Count: 15 seeds
