Helianthus annuus

Available for purchase from 1 July 2025  

Tiger’s Eye is a bold and beautiful sunflower variety introduced in the 1990s by breeder Alan Kapuler. It is prized for its vivid bicolour blooms and manageable height, making it a perfect choice for home gardens. With golden yellow petals encircling a deep red to bronze ring around the central disc, these flowers create a glowing effect that lights up beds, borders, and container displays.

Blooms are approximately 10-14 cm wide and grow on strong, upright stems. Tiger’s Eye is highly attractive to pollinators such as bees and butterflies, while the mature seed heads offer a late-season food source for birds. It also makes a lovely cut flower, bringing rich colour and cheerful structure to indoor arrangements.

Sow seeds directly into well-prepared soil once the last frost has passed. Plant seeds 2.5 cm deep and space 30-45 cm apart in full sun. Sunflowers thrive in well-drained, compost-enriched soil and benefit from regular watering during early growth. Germination usually takes 7-14 days in soil temperatures around 21 °C. Plants typically flower within 70-90 days of sowing.

Tiger’s Eye grows to between 90-150 cm tall, occasionally reaching up to 2 m in favourable conditions. The plant has a branching habit with multiple blooms per stem and maintains good balance without becoming top-heavy. In windy locations, light staking may help support taller growth.

For South African gardeners seeking a sunflower with visual impact and reliable performance, Tiger’s Eye is a top choice. Its fiery colouring, strong stems, and food value make it both a showpiece and a pollinator favourite.