Massive sunflowers attract local attention

Given the constant sunny weather we’ve experienced, Dorset’s sunflowers should be doing well, but most we’ve seen on our travels have been modest at best. Step forward a Ferndown resident, whose monsters have reached over 10-feet tall.

Reader Jeanie is rightfully proud of her father’s amazing Helianthus, letting us know, “My father, aged 84 (and over 6ft tall for reference), has grown some truly amazing sunflowers in his garden this year. They are well over 10 ft tall with the thickest stems I have ever seen – honestly, they look like they belong in a fairytale!”

She continues, “We’ve had locals passing by stopping to comment, and asking if they can take pictures of them. It’s been lovely to see how much joy they’ve brought to people just walking by. Previous years have seen them grow to 6ft to 8ft at best.”

Without wishing to start a sunflower waving contest, has anyone grown any examples that compare? Let us know by emailing the details and a photo at mags@dorsetview.co.uk.

However high yours are, they’ll have to grow some way to compete with world record holder Clover, a 10.90 metre (35 feet 9 inch) behemoth from Fort Wayne, Indiana, America grown in 2025.