Chocolate Cherry Sunflowers Will Make Your Yard Look Dark and Decadent
Updated: Apr. 19, 2023
This chocolate cherry sunflower looks good enough to eat.
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Succulents have become so popular because they add pops of greenery to a space without all of the hard work of maintaining them. Yes, we love these desert beauties, but now we’re ready for bright flowers, too.
Some may opt for a fresh flower subscription or arranging a bouquet at home. Nothing beats growing your own flowers from seed, though, especially when those flowers turn heads. That’s definitely the case with chocolate cherry sunflowers, which will make you look at sunflowers in a whole new light.
What Is a Chocolate Cherry Sunflower?
Everyone knows what sunflowers look like. They’re iconic with their yellow petals and dark brown center. Now, chocolate cherry sunflowers, on the other hand, look exactly how they sound. They are a gorgeous shade of deep, dark burgundy that have an even darker center. Some lean more black while others fade into a rich brown shade.
The seeds can be planted in the spring or summer ½” deep. Keep in mind this is a branching variety of sunflower, so if you pinch then you’ll have a short plant with flowering branches. Otherwise, they will grow to 8 feet tall with an 8-inch flower head. Beautiful!
Essentials for Plant Care
Where Can I Buy Sunflower Seeds?
Seeds are available from sources like Burpee, one of our best places to buy plants and seeds online. You can also find the seeds on Etsy, carried by multiple sellers, including TomorrowSeeds. The best part of growing flowers from seeds is that it’s so economical. Most online retailers are selling chocolate cherry sunflower seeds for less than $5. Now, get growing! Find out if you can eat sunflower seed shells.
Chocolate and Cherry Desserts We Love
Chocolate Cherry FudgeThis chocolate cherry fudge is unique from others, and festive for the holidays. It's a recipe my husband really enjoys. I've made it for our Homemaker group's Christmas party. —June Lindquist, Hammond, Wisconsin
Black Forest TartCherry pie filling and a melted chocolate drizzle top a rich, fudgy cake made from chocolate cookie crumbs. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen. Looking for more? Check out our collection of cherry desserts.
Chocolate Lebkuchen Cherry BallsHere’s my twist on the traditional German holiday lebkuchen—with a surprise inside. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
Cherry Upside-Down Bread PuddingI've always loved bread pudding, and I enjoy fixing this for my family on a chilly day. You could use a different flavor of pie filling and omit the chocolate chips to make a completely different dessert. It's always delicious! —Ronna Farley, Rockville, Maryland
Cherry Chocolate Nut CookiesEach Christmas, I make about 600 cookies to share with family and friends. The holidays wouldn't be the same without several batches of these colorful goodies. —Sybil Brown, Highland, California
Cherry-Coconut Chocolate TorteThis torte reminds me of two favorite treats: chocolate covered cherries and old-fashioned Cherry Mash candy bars. —Dian Hicks Carlson, Omaha, Nebraska
Chocolate Chip-Cherry Chunk CookiesMy grandmas and mom created this recipe with chocolate chips, cherries and spices, a combo of their favorite parts of different cookies. Then dad made ice cream to turn them into ice cream sandwiches. We'd eat these sandwiches in the summer heat, each bite cooling us as the ice cream melted down our arms. —Wade Rouse, Fennville, Michigan. For more info on author Wade Rouse, please visit www.ViolaShipman.com
Cherry Chocolate Pecan PieI'm a pie baker and this is one my family frequently requests. With the brandy infused cherries and chocolate chips, it's an awesome twist on a pecan pie.—Sonya Labbe, Santa Monica, California
Spumoni Baked AlaskaFor a refreshing end to a rich meal, try this freezer finale. Its intriguing interior and pretty color scheme are bound to garner oohs and aahs. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Chocolate-Filled Cherry Angel CakeHere's a cake that will catch the eye of all your guests. It's beautiful and is ideal for parties or holidays. If you loved chocolate and cherries together, you'll love this cake! —Barbara Wheeler, Royal Oak, Michigan
Cherry BombsYou'll win praise for these clever cherry bombs. Serve them for a special occasion with a knife and dessert spoon. —Linda Triplett, Renton, Washington
Chocolate Cherry Layer CakeThis luscious cake is really versatile for all-year fun. I've changed the design on top to a heart for Valentine's, a pumpkin for autumn and a tree for Christmas. —Flo Burtnett, Gage, Oklahoma
Black Forest Upside-Down CakeThe divine flavors of this simple Black Forest cake will impress your guests and leave you with many requests for the recipe! —Kimberly Campbell, Wheeling, West Virginia
Black Forest Icebox CookiesThese rich chocolate wafers are the perfect complement to the creamy filling's sweet-tart tones. Chill for up to four hours; any longer and the wafers get too soft to pick up with your hands. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Originally Published: March 08, 2021
