I've never had a problem with them. If you keep them pinched back, you will get more branches with more flowers. They seed over in my garden, but they are different because I plant a lot of hybrids.

I never heard of poisoning? Are you growing for consumption? Those are limited to specific varieties.

As long as the rabbits or slugs don't get them when they are small, I find them quite easy. Choose a variety appropriate for your goals. I love the bushy plants with lots of small blooms. They seem to keep blooming until frost. If you want flowers for bouquets, check with the Cutting Garden forum for recommendations. If you find your plants pooping out early, maybe try successively plantings so you always have new blooms coming. I'm no expert. I've only grown them twice,since I have limited sun. Hopefully more knowledgeable folk will chime in. Good luck.

Martha

Mine seem to play well, but there are 2 things you should know.

1) they draw metals from the soil. If you have any contamination in your soil, don't compost them.

2) the flowers will last until the finches/chipmunks/squirrels find them. This will be roughly 0.002 seconds after the seeds ripen.

And, the finches pluck out the petals to speed up the seed ripening!

There are a lot of different types. 'Mammoth' which is popular for large seeds for eating has one large flower. Many other types produce side branches with multiple flowers and there are even several pollenless types used for cutflowers. As mentioned above, plant them in good soil and protect them when they first come up and you should be fine.

and they are heavy feeders, so make sure they are not starving and be generous with compost/ fert etc,
bye, Lin

okay, well. I am going to try them again! ....If this weather ever settles down and warms up!

I grow a reddish sunflower that branches and continues to flower for quite a while.
Sunflowers are allelopaths.

Here is a link that might be useful: Allelopaths

Thank you, Lucille. That is just what I wanted to know and the article was very helpful.