Do these look like new perennial sunflowers to you?

[l008com]

Ok so 2 years ago, I planted a pair of perennial sunflowers along the back edge of my lawn. They died in the winter and the next year (last year), they came back. Died again, and this year, each spot has a whole bunch of these things growing. Are these them? I can't tell if these are weeds or sunflowers! If they're weeds, I want to yank em quick! But of course if they're sunflowers, Thats great and I hope they create a nice wall of plant this year!

 

[Oliver Buckle]

I would expect heart shaped leaves on sunflowers, but varieties may vary. I should wait for a reply from someone in your part of the world before you pull them, they are likely to be acquainted with your local weeds.
That ground is dry isn't it, I can see the cracks.

 

[l008com]

Yup, we're in a drought and this is the far back edge of my property, beyond where any of my hoses and sprinklers will reach. But we're supposed to get a lot of rain tomorrow so hopefully that helps.

My first instinct was weeds. But their locations are so suspicious, it makes me think plants.

 

[cpp gardener]

Do they look like the ones you planted? That would be a key indicator.

 

[l008com]

Its been years man, I couldn't tell you

 

[Meadowlark]

No, doesn't look like sunflowers to me. Looks like Goldenrod.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Some native perennial sunflowers have narrow leaves like that. I can't really tell, but it's either sunflowers or goldenrod. I consider neither a weed but some don't like goldenrod. Both sunflowers and goldenrods spread aggressively and will give you a lot of yellow in late summer. It just depends whether you want goldenrod or not. But I really can't tell either way.

Do you know what species of sunflowers you planted?

 

[l008com]

"Maximilian" plants. I believe this is the exact listing:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/285804654115

 

[Meadowlark]

I have some of those and there is definitely a resemblance that I didn't notice at first...and they are perennial.

 

[l008com]

Well given that they are popping out of my lawn in the exact spot i previously planted them, i'm thinking they are probably sunflowers

 

[Meadowlark]

For comparison, here's my Maximillian sunflowers currently. Shows a lot of resemblance to yours @l008com.

 

[cpp gardener]

Those can really put on a show! I had some in a previous garden and SWMBO really liked them.

 

[l008com]

No sign of any flowers yet, so I'm getting skeptical. But it just seems like too much of a coincidence that some new weed i've never had before, happens to be growing, and only in the two spots where I previously had sunflowers planted.

Or maybe the answer is much simpler. The ebay seller sold me what he thought was sunflower seeds but they were whatever this random thing is instead.

 

[cpp gardener]

What do they look like now?

 

[Meadowlark]

...Or maybe the answer is much simpler. The ebay seller sold me what he thought was sunflower seeds but they were whatever this random thing is instead.

Can you post a picture of the "random" thing?


By the way, my Maximillion sunflowers are still blooming away in late July 100 deg F days.