Helianthus annuus 'Ring of Fire'
Trial: Annual
Years Trialed: 1999
Good Qualities:
Good consistent bi-color (6); Strong stems (2); Easy to grow; Very attractive, smaller side branches useful, one long lasting cut flower, heads held upright; Productive. Stem size length good for mixed bouquets. Disease resistance better than some other sunflowers; Striking; Nice contrast of color (bronze and yellow). Especially accepted in fall arrangements. Mixed well with orange colored dahlia and zinnia; Moderate market demand. No lodging after big storm; Good side branching - long enough to cut; Pretty, different; Golden yellow with red center, good for fall sales, possibly with a pinch.
Problems:
It seems that our market doesn't appreciate the red color on sunflowers in general. Nice plant, just not popular; None; First bloom not very large; Plants are somewhat short. Probably this would be different in a non-drought year; Deer loved it! Too dark of color for our mix; Didn't seem healthy–I'll probably try it again; Was better accepted in fall arrangements than summer. No problems with disease or bugs; Main flower and side shoots all ready at once, this could have been due to our excessive heat this year; Has pollen, axillary branches.
Trial Data
| Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating (1) | Repeat Again Rating (1) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (1) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 5.4 | 22.2 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4.8 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
Benary Seed
1444 Larson St.
Sycamore, IL 60178
Comments:
Similar to Autumn Beauty; Would grow again in a heartbeat; May have been more appreciated if grown in fall; Two-thirds died; Great color, nice stems.