T&M's plant breeders are pleased to announce that Sunflower Bicentenary has been selected by the Royal Horticultural Society and included in their prized Bicentenary Plant Collection celebrating 200 years of the RHS.

Bicententary was chosen because of its outstanding garden performance ,as well as being totally unique! Not only are the attractive 15cm (6 inch) rich gold and bronze flowers bi-coloured, but they also sit above unusual soft, silver-green foliage.

Bicentenary is easy to grow, producing many multi-headed stems which create maximum impact when planted towards the middle or back of a border as well as making a decorative cut flower. The buds are delicious cooked in butter sauce and seeds make a tasty snack. Click here for more information on cooking and decorating food with flowers.

Sow thinly, 12mm (½ inch) deep in drills 30cm (12 inches) apart in well cultivated soil raked to a fine tilth. Germination takes around 21 days. When large enough to handle, thin to 30cm (12 inches) apart.

For earlier flowering sow indoors, individually in 7.5cm (3 inch) pots at 20-25C (68-77F). When well grown, gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions before planting out after all risk of frost.

Thin out to 30cm (12 inches) apart, when large enough to handle.

They prefer a sunny open site but will grow in most sites and soils. In order to spread the flowering over a longer period make 2 sowings allowing 14 days between them, or pinch out the growing point of some of the plants at the 6 leaf stage.