Annual Flower

When to Plant Sunflowers in Virginia

Few things bring more joy than a row of sunflowers turning their faces to the sun. Easy, dramatic, and pollinator-friendly.

The Short Answer

Virginia's warm summers and long days produce beautiful sunflowers across all regions. The crop has become increasingly popular for Virginia's agritourism industry, with sunflower festivals drawing crowds each August and September.

Virginia Frost Dates

Your planting dates depend on which part of Virginia you're in. Here are the frost date ranges by region:

Region Zones Last Frost (Spring) First Frost (Fall)
Mountain Virginia 5b, 6a May 1 - May 15 Sep 25 - Oct 10
Piedmont/Central Virginia 7a, 7b Apr 5 - Apr 20 Oct 15 - Nov 1
Tidewater/Coastal 7b, 8a Mar 20 - Apr 5 Oct 25 - Nov 10

Sunflowers Planting Schedule for Virginia

Mountain Virginia (Zones 5b, 6a)

Average last frost: May 1 - May 15 · Average first frost: Sep 25 - Oct 10

Start Seeds Indoors
2 wks before frost
Transplant Outside
1 wks after frost
Direct Sow
1 wks after frost

Piedmont/Central Virginia (Zones 7a, 7b)

Average last frost: Apr 5 - Apr 20 · Average first frost: Oct 15 - Nov 1

Start Seeds Indoors
2 wks before frost
Transplant Outside
1 wks after frost
Direct Sow
1 wks after frost

Tidewater/Coastal (Zones 7b, 8a)

Average last frost: Mar 20 - Apr 5 · Average first frost: Oct 25 - Nov 10

Start Seeds Indoors
2 wks before frost
Transplant Outside
1 wks after frost
Direct Sow
1 wks after frost

Growing Sunflowers in Virginia

State-Specific Growing Tips

Direct sow from early May (Tidewater) through mid-May (mountains). Succession plant for continuous blooms. Virginia's diverse soils all grow sunflowers well.

Recommended Varieties for Virginia

ProCut, Sunrich, Mammoth. Multi-stem varieties for cut flowers. Virginia Cooperative Extension provides flower variety recommendations.

Common Challenges in Virginia

Birds eat seeds. Japanese beetles defoliate plants during July flight. Deer browse young plants in rural areas. Powdery mildew in humid conditions.

Growing Tips

Direct sow is preferred — sunflowers don't love transplanting. Succession plant every 2 weeks for blooms all summer.

Companion Planting

Plant sunflowers alongside these companions for better growth:

Cucumbers Squash Corn

Keep sunflowers away from:

Potatoes

The Bottom Line

Sunflowers can be grown successfully in Virginia with proper attention to regional frost dates and local growing conditions. Timing varies across the state — Mountain Virginia gardeners work with a last frost around May 1 - May 15, while Tidewater/Coastal sees frost end around Mar 20 - Apr 5. Choose varieties suited to your region, amend your soil based on its specific needs, and monitor for the pests and diseases most common in your area. For exact dates based on your zip code, use our free planting date finder.

Related Guides

Sunflowers Growing Guide National planting guide with all states Virginia Planting Calendar All plants for Virginia Sunflowers in Alabama Alabama planting dates Sunflowers in Alaska Alaska planting dates Sunflowers in Arizona Arizona planting dates Sunflowers in Arkansas Arkansas planting dates
Note: All dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normals and represent historical averages, not predictions for any specific year. Always check your local weather forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops. Learn about our data sources.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026

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