Dorothea Dix Park Sunflowers
Updated July 7, 2023
A sea of cheerful, golden sunflowers stretch out in a Raleigh field for a couple of weeks each summer. The Dorothea Dix Park Sunflowers are a spectacular sight to see and not to be missed - though you’ll have to plan your visit just right since the golden beauties only bloom for two weeks.
Five acres of Dorothea Dix Park’s Sunflowers field bloom in mid-July through the end of the month. While the flowers aren’t in bloom long, they’re well worth making a trip out to the park to see. We’ll cover everything you need to know so you can make the most out of your visit.
Photo by Sarah Leying
Dix Park Sunflowers
Location & Parking
Location: The Sunflowers Field is located off Hunt Drive near the historic cemetery.
Parking: Parking varies from weekdays to weekends. If you’re visiting on a weekday during business hours, free parking is available in a gravel lot near the Magnolia Room. If you’re planning your visit in the evening on a weekday or anytime on a weekend, you’re welcome to use any of the park’s paved lots.
When to Visit
Dates: July 15 - July 31. Sometimes the flowers will bloom into early August (they bloomed until August 11 in 2021), but we recommend visiting in July to see the flowers at peak bloom! As of July 5, 2023, we are not yet seeing the sunflowers bloom yet.
Based on last year’s schedule, this is when you can expect peak bloom:
July 10 - 17: About 20% of sunflowers were in bloom by the week’s end. Buds were just starting to burst at the start of the week. We are seeing this so far in July 2022.
July 21-27: Sunflowers were in peak bloom. This is expected to be peak bloom in July 2022.
July 28 - August 4: Sunflowers were past peak bloom and were starting to wilt. A few sunflowers were still blooming
Hours: Visitors are welcome to view the sunflowers free of charge every day from sunrise to sunset.
Tips & Nice to Know Information
Expect hot weather. We recommend wearing a sun hat and bringing sunscreen, cold water, and bug spray.
Pets are welcome! Please bring their leashes though. Be aware that the sunflower field may be crowded, so we recommend only bringing pets that are comfortable with crowds.
Bring your cameras. The sunflowers make for a fun photo opportunity.
Wear close-toed shoes for the hills and uneven grassy patches. Close-toed shoes will protect you from bugs too!
We recommend bringing a blanket and a picnic. You can enjoy the view of the Dorothea Dix Park sunflower field from the shade of nearby trees and enjoy a picnic!
Early on weekdays is the least busy time to view the sunflowers. Expect larger crowds on weekends and in the afternoons.
Sunflowers chase the sun! This means the way they face will change throughout the day as the sun moves. For the perfect time to have the sunflowers opening towards you, with the Raleigh skyline in the backdrop, visit at 1:00 PM or later.
Southern Picnic’s Secret Tip
Our favorite time to visit the Dorothea Dix sunflowers is right after it rains. The ground will be a bit muddy, but this is when the sunflower field will be the least crowded. In the past when we’ve visited shortly after a summer storm, we were the only ones in the field! You’ll be sure to capture incredible photos of the sunflowers during this time.
Purpose of the Sunflowers
A high-oil variety of sunflowers are planted in this field so after the bloom, Raleigh Water harvests the seeds to make biofuel for city equipment like tractors and trailers. In addition to fueling city equipment, the Dorthea Dix Park sunflowers create a huge pollinator habitat for bees and other species.
Sources
- Science ABC. “Why Do Sunflowers Always Face the Sun?”. https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/sunflowers-always-face-follow-sun.html. 23 January 2022.
- Dorothea Dix Park. “Sunflowers”. https://dixpark.org/sunflowers. 23 January 2022.
About the Author
Angela Byrnes - Owner, Southern Picnics
Angela is the owner of Southern Picnics and started the business in September 2020. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in Writing and Literature. She later attended Duke University where she received a certificate in Digital Media and Marketing.