8 Dwarf Sunflowers for Containers and Small Gardens

They may be mini, but these dwarf sunflowers can still bring glorious golden blooms into your garden. Whether you’re container gardening on a balcony or looking to add some color to your patio they have the same cheerful impact as taller sunflowers — just in miniature.

Taller sunflowers usually work best in garden soil where their roots are able to anchor themselves deep underground. However, if you still want the bright colors of sunflowers in your garden space, dwarf sunflowers are a perfect alternative.

Dwarf sunflowers are…

• great for pollinators
• perfect for container gardening, where you’re not able to plant in soil
• useful for high-wind areas (like the coast or tall apartments) where taller sunflowers may blow over
• one of the best flowers to grow with children

Best dwarf sunflowers for containers

These mini blooms are perfect for bringing cheerful color into small garden spaces. 

Here are some of the best and easiest-to-find dwarf sunflowers that you can grow in containers or pots!

1. Teddy Bear Sunflower

A sweet little sunflower with beautiful, ruffled flower heads. There’s such a dense collection of petals the flower head almost resembles a soft teddy bear face — hence their name!

The Teddy Bear sunflower has a short bushy shape which is ideal for filling out containers. Usually, it’ll have a sturdy central stem that will produce multiple flower stems.

Height: 2-3 feet

Best for:

• Unusual fluffy flowers
• Vibrant orange and sunshine yellow colors

2. Sunspot Dwarf 

Growing to about 2 feet tall, the ‘Sunspot’ sunflower may be small, but you’ll still get to enjoy dinner plate sized flowers! The flowers have that classic sunflower style, with sunshine yellow petals and a dark center that will develop into a good supply of sunflower seeds.

It’s a great size for container planting. Plus the flowers should last well into autumn bringing cheerful color until the frosts hit.

Height: 2 feet

Best for:

• Big, bright flowers on a small plant
• A good supply of tasty seeds (for you or the birds!)

3. Tiger Eye Sunflower

The Tigers Eye sunflower produces beautiful dual-colored petals with a rich burnt orange center and bright sunshine yellow at the tips. Perfect for adding fiery color to a balcony garden or porch!

They produce a sturdy central stem, and strong plants should produce up to 8+ 5-inch flower heads. Depending on how many plants you grow you should have enough to create some beautiful cut flower bunches too.

They’re also a great flower to attract Monarch butterflies!

Best for:

• Richly colored orange and yellow flower heads.
• Very sturdy stem, great for areas that experience high winds

4. Sungold Dwarf

Like the Teddy Sunflower, Sungold Dwarf has amazing, cushion-like flowers. The entire flower head is covered in petals, creating a soft spongey look.

The petals have a lovely, warm golden color, which can bring a cheerful glow to balconies or patios. It’ll produce multiple blooms per plant.

Height: 1.5-3 feet

Best for:

• Unusual cushion-like flowers
• Beautiful golden orange/yellow color

5. Smiley Sunflower

The tiniest dwarf sunflower on the list — small enough to try growing on a windowsill too! The Smiley sunflower is a popular dwarf sunflower that can produce up to 12 flower heads per plant.

Their flowers have that typical sunflower look with a dark brown center and a thick fringe of sunshine-yellow petals. It’s a sweet little sunflower that’s perfect for very tiny garden spaces or pots.

Height: 6-20 inches

Best for:

• One of the tiniest sunflowers
• Can be grown on windowsills
• Pollen free

Related Read | 11 Vegetables You Can Grow Indoors on a Windowsill

6. Rio Carnival Sunflower

If you’re looking for bold color, the Rio Carnival sunflower would definitely be a welcome addition to your garden. It’s a short and sturdy dwarf sunflower that’s excellent for container growing.

The Rio Carnival is a hybrid sunflower that doesn’t produce pollen. Ideal if you have a pollen allergy, and also great for cut flowers too as they won’t drop pollen everywhere!

Height: 2 feet

Best for:

• Pollen-free variety
• A beautiful, burnt orange center that fades to yellow

7. Mardi Gras Dwarf Sunflower

Bold and beautiful, the Mardi Gras sunflower produces multiple branches of flower stems topped with vibrant flowers. You’ll get a vibrant mix of flower colors from these seeds. From dark red and rust orange to golden yellow.

Reaching a height of roughly 2 feet, they look lovely sat in patio containers or planted at the front of borders.

Height: 2-3 feet

Best for:

• A mix of orange, burgundy, and yellow petal variations
• Loose, feathery petals that add a relaxed, romantic style

8. Sunray Yellow 

Sunray Yellow is a hybrid sunflower that produces a beautiful, compact, bushy plant.

Their shorter size makes them a great choice for windy areas where taller sunflowers could be blown down or damaged.

Just note that the container size you use will determine how big they’ll grow. They’ll definitely grow in half-gallon-sized pots, but if you don’t pot them on, it will restrict the growth and you may get fewer flowers.

Height: 1.5 feet

Best for:

• Multiple blooms per plant (make sure to deadhead spent flowers)
• Coastal or high-wind areas where other sunflowers may be damaged

Best container size for dwarf sunflowers 

Because of their smaller size, most of these dwarf sunflowers will tolerate smaller pots. They don’t need deep pots for stabilization, however, they will still need enough space for roots to thrive.

Here are some pot size recommendations depending on how tall a dwarf sunflower grows…

• Dwarf sunflowers below 1 foot: 6-inch pot
• Dwarf sunflowers below 2 feet: 10-inch pot
• Dwarf sunflowers below 2-3 feet: 15-20 inch pot

Choosing a smaller pot will usually restrict growth. Whereas a larger pot may encourage your dwarf sunflowers to grow a little taller.

Growing information for dwarf sunflowers 

Dwarf sunflowers are fun and easy to grow, but to maximize the number of flowers they produce, and to keep your plants healthy, here are some top tips!

• If planting in a row or multiple pots, don’t plant them too close together. Overcrowding can cause them to grow taller as they compete for sunlight.
• As the first flowers begin to fade, deadhead these flowers to encourage new ones to grow.
• However, as autumn approaches leave any remaining flowers so that they can develop seed heads! These are loved by wildlife, including squirrels and birds.
• Sunflowers love the sun! Make sure you place them in the sunniest position possible.