Yes she really is a Queen this sunflower – Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ is her proper title.

We are advised she likes rich and fertile soil. Well you could have fooled me. This plant grows so fast on my thin, sandy soil that I cut two huge chunks away earlier this year to replant elsewhere in the garden. This is one of them and she’s attracting bees and other pollinators by the score. The other is at least six foot high surviving the harsh summer drought into regal splendour.

I love this plant to bits for all the above reasons and because she brings so much autumn cheer, flowering from July to at least October in our far east garden. Plenty of flowers to cut and bring indoors too.