Black Oil Sunflower
Jacki Kellum Garden
May 19, 2025

Although it is early, my first sunflowers bloomed today. I am delighted to say that I have sunflowers in my garden much earlier than I did last year. Because I kept my bird feeders stocked all winter, I am blessed with early sunflowers.

I buy 3 types of bird seed–all of my bird seed comes from the Kaytee Company.

I mix the seed as follows:
1/3 Kaytee Fruit & Nut
1/3 Kaytee Black Oil Sunflower Seed
1/3 Kaytee Gray Stripe Sunflower Seed

Because the Fruit & Nut Seed is liberally filled with sunflower seeds, I dispatch a lot sunflower seeds.

Kaytee Nut & Fruit Seed
Image Credit: Kaytee on Amazon

Kaytee Nut & Fruit Seed
Image Credit: Kaytee on Amazon

Although the Nut & Fruit seed is heavily stocked with sunflower seeds, I supplement with equal portions of Kaytee Black Oil Sunflower Seeds and Kaytee Gray Stripe Sunflower Seeds.

Kaytee Black Oil Sunflower Seed
Image Credit: Kaytee on Amazon

Kaytee Black Oil Sunflower Seed
Image Credit: Kaytee on Amazon

Kaytee Black Oil Sunflower Seed
Image Credit: Kaytee on Amazon

Because I consistently feed my birds equal portions of black oil and grey striped seeds, you might think that I would have both types of sunflowers bloom simultaneously. But Black Oil Sunflower Seeds bloom much earlier than the gray stripes:

“…different sunflower varieties will mature quicker than others. For example, fast-growing sunflower varieties such as ‘ProCut Red’ and ‘Ruby Eclipse’, bloom just 55 days after planting. In comparison, giant sunflower types like ‘Mammoth Grey Stripe’ can take 120 days to mature.” Better Homes and Gardens

Black Oil Sunlower Seeds Mature and Bloom in 60 to 70 days.

Mississippi has a milder climate than many other states, and the black oil seeds that my birds dropped during the winter bloom in mid-May.

Here’s another interesting fact: Although the center of the Black Oil Sunflower will ultimately be dark, it begins as yellow.

“Black oil sunflowers start with a yellow center due to the color of their small, individual flowers, called discoid florets. These florets have yellow petals in the original species, Helianthus annuus. As the seeds mature, the florets turn dark, making the center appear black.” Google AI