Sunflower season in NZ: when sunflowers are in, what they cost, and how to keep them

Sunflower season in New Zealand is summer: outdoor-grown sunflowers are at their best from December to March, with January and February the peak. Florists can usually get sunflower stems from about October to early May, because commercial growers stagger their sowings and some grow under cover, but the cheapest, biggest and most plentiful stems are in high summer.

Sunflowers are frost tender, so nobody here sows them outdoors until spring has warmed up. Count forward from the sowing and you get the season: Tui's growing guide gives up to 90 days to flower for giant varieties and 50 to 60 days for dwarf ones, which can be sown until late January.

When are sunflowers in season in NZ?

From December to March for New Zealand outdoor-grown sunflowers, peaking in January and February. Florists often have sunflowers on their lists from October, and Wellington florist Avant Garden puts commercial availability at October to early May. Outside that window, sunflowers in a New Zealand shop are imported or glasshouse-grown, and dearer.

The season, month by month

• October and November: early stems, mostly from commercial growers. Available but not at their best value. Peonies and ranunculus are the in-season stars; see peony season in NZ.
• December: outdoor sunflowers start arriving. Good for Christmas tables alongside hydrangeas; see Christmas flowers in NZ.
• January and February: peak season. The most stems, the biggest heads, the lowest prices, and the month the sunflower fields are worth a drive.
• March: still good, with late sowings and dwarf varieties finishing.
• April to early May: the tail, as nights cool. Choice narrows.
• June to September: not in season here. Any sunflowers on sale are imported.

How much do sunflowers cost in NZ?

A delivered bunch of sunflowers costs from about $80 for six stems to about $150 for twelve in Auckland in October 2026, with delivery usually charged on top. Sunflowers are one of the better-value bouquet flowers in summer, because a few big heads fill a vase. These are prices a florist publishes on its own site:

• Wild Poppies (Auckland), Sunflower Bouquet: 6 stems $79.99 (was $89.99), 9 stems $109.99 (was $129.99), 12 stems $149.99 (was $169.99). Vase not included; same-day Auckland delivery and overnight delivery elsewhere in NZ. Source, read 30 October 2026.

The "was" prices are the florist's regular prices and the lower ones were a sale on the day we looked. As a rule of thumb, a sunflower stem from a florist works out at roughly $12 to $15 once it is arranged and wrapped. For how ordinary bouquets are priced and how delivery fees add up, see what flowers cost in NZ.

Worked example

Nine stems from the list above at the regular price is $129.99, or $14.44 a stem; at the sale price it is $109.99, or $12.22 a stem. The six-stem bunch at $79.99 is $13.33 a stem. Buying the bigger bunch only saves money per stem when it is on sale.

Are sunflowers good for a wedding in NZ?

Yes, if the wedding is between December and March, when they are local, plentiful and good value. Sunflowers suit relaxed summer and rural weddings, and mini sunflowers mix well with cosmos, dahlias, scabiosa and garden roses. For a spring wedding they can be done, but expect fewer, smaller stems at a higher price. Wedding flower costs covers budgeting.

Are sunflowers OK for sympathy flowers?

They can be. White and soft colours are the safe choice for a funeral, but sunflowers are often chosen to celebrate a bright, warm life, especially for a send-off that asks for colour. If you are not sure, send them to the family's home rather than the service. Sympathy flowers in Aotearoa covers the etiquette.

How do I make sunflowers last longer?

Re-cut the stems at an angle, strip any leaves below the waterline, and stand them in deep, clean water straight away. Sunflowers are thirsty and top-heavy, so use a tall, heavy vase and top it up daily. Changed every two days, a good sunflower lasts about a week in the vase, sometimes ten days.

Vase care

• Use a heavy vase: a full head of sunflowers tips a light one over.
• Top up the water daily, and change it fully every second day, re-trimming the stems each time.
• Strip most of the leaves. They wilt before the flower does and foul the water.
• Keep them out of direct afternoon sun and away from the fruit bowl.
• If a head droops, re-cut the stem and stand it in deep water for a few hours.
• More steps are in how to make flowers last longer.

When should I sow sunflowers in NZ?

Sow sunflowers outdoors from mid-spring, once the frost risk has passed, which is October in most of the North Island and late October to November further south. Giant varieties need the earliest start because they take up to 90 days to flower; dwarf varieties take 50 to 60 days and can be sown until late January for flowers in March.

Sunflowers and the rest of the year

Sunflowers arrive with dahlias, hydrangeas and lisianthus, the core of a New Zealand summer bouquet. For what comes in and out of season month by month, see what flowers are in season in NZ.