There’s nothing that says “summer” like a big, happy field of sunflowers. There are several farms and fields near Charlotte where the public can visit and take pictures.
On this page we will be updating the inside scoop on sunflower fields that are a short drive from Charlotte. We are continually updating as more information is announced.
Sunflowers can bloom from mid-summer to early fall, so you should have many opportunities to enjoy them. Never cut sunflowers unless you have permission from the owner. Although some of these fields hold U-cut days, others are meant just to be enjoyed during your visit.
Do you know of sunflower fields that are open to visitors and not on this list? Please let us know by emailing info@charlotteonthecheap.com.
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Sunflower fields near Charlotte
If available, please make sure to check the websites of these fields, or their social media, to check the status of the sunflowers before heading out. The sunflower season in the Charlotte area is very long, and some sunflower fields will be done blooming before others even begin.
Never cut sunflowers unless you are sure it is permitted.
Oddie’s Sunflower Field
Oddie’s Sunflower Field, at 2955 Oddie Road, Salisbury, NC, will have sunflowers all through the summer, and even into the fall. There are multiple sunflower crops from June through September. Follow Oddie’s Sunflower Field on Facebook for updates for announcements about when the flowers are blooming.
They were in bloom on September 7, 2024.
It’s free to visit, although donations are appreciated. You can visit from sunrise to sunset every day, while they are in bloom. There is a donation box at the field. Please do donate as generously as you can. You can also donate via Cash App: $OddiesSunflowerfield.
To find this sunflower field, in Salisbury, turn right on Oddie Road from Stokes Ferry Road. Immediately after turning right on Oddie Road, look to your right and you’ll see a gate. Turn in here.
Then, just follow the signs, and the road will bring you to the sunflower fields.
You’re welcome to enjoy a picnic at the picnic table, or take pictures with the antique farm equipment. There are several tree swings, and even a porta-john.
You CAN cut a few flowers to take home. In fact, there is a table with some clippers. Bring a bucket or other container for the flowers. Cut some flowers, and bring it home! If you make your own bouquet, definitely leave a donation in the box.
There is also some produce for sale, flowers in pots, gourd birdhouses and bluebird houses. All are extremely reasonable priced, and are on the honor system.
Monroe Sunflowers
The “Monroe Sunflowers” have all been picked, as announced on Facebook. See you in 2025!
The field is on private land near Monroe, NC. This is a wonderful, large sunflower field where visitors are welcome to take pictures and even cut sunflowers.
It’s on the corner of Harley Street and West Franklin Street, Monroe. You can put 100 Harley Street, Monroe, NC, into your GPS.
There will be clippers that you can use if you don’t have any. Make sure to put the clippers back when you’re done. To check on status, search social media for the hashtag #monroesunflowers. Use that tag if you post pictures, so they’ll see them!
Please park on the side of Harley Street, not in the driveway of the white house.
Wesley Chapel Sunflowers
There is a sunflower field at the corner of Weddington Road and Wesley Chapel Road in Wesley Chapel, North Carolina. It’s across the street from Wesley Chapel Elementary School. It was blooming on July 20, 2024. If you’re reading this much later than that date, the flowers are probably gone! There’s no signage, and we don’t know of any website or Facebook page associated with it.
Pictures should be fine, but please don’t cut any sunflowers or damage the stalks in any way. There’s a little spot on Weddington Road where you can pull off and park.
Draper Wildlife Management Area Sunflower Field
Acres of sunflowers are planted every year at Draper Wildlife Management Area, 1080 Draper Road, McConnells, South Carolina. They were in full bloom on July 4, 2024. If you’re reading this much later that date, they’re probably not in bloom anymore!
When you enter the Draper Wildlife Management Area, drive through the first parking area and continue along the road. You’ll get to a parking area that ends in a circle. Walk the path on the left, through the woods, to get to the sunflower fields.
You’re welcome to visit from dawn to dusk and to take pictures. Draper Wildlife Management Area is just 36 miles from Charlotte. Please do not pick the sunflowers! Please understand that the arrival and the duration of the blooms depends on weather.
Wise Acres
Wise Acres, at 4701 Hartis Road, in Indian Trail, NC, is known for its strawberry fields and farm activities for kids. Their sunflower season is an early one, from June to early July.
Reservations are almost always required. The cost is $3 per person, with kids 2 and under admitted for free. You’ll get to spend time on the farm to take pictures with the sunflowers, play on the playground, and meet the animals.
One u-cut sunflower is included per reservations. Additional flowers are available. Vases and clippers are available for you to create your own bouquet with 20 stems for $17.50.
When you make your reservation you can reserve a pizza (for Saturdays.)
The best way to keep up to date on what’s going on at Wise Acres is to sign up for emails from them. Then you’ll be notified as soon as reservations open for a certain time period. (They fill up quickly.)
McLawland Farms LLC
McLawland Farms, at 8632 Reedy Creek Road, in Charlotte, is a small operation (“2 guys and a farm”) that grows flowers that you can pick yourself. There’s no charge for a visit. They operate by appointment only. Just pay for what you cut. They typically grow sunflowers, zinnias, dahlias and more. The flowers bloom at different times throughout the summer. Look for updates on their Facebook page.
The Fields at Sunflower Trail
The Fields at Sunflower Trail is a Sunflower Maze and flower field at 177 Howell Road, Mocksville, North Carolina. Opening day is July 19, 2024. Admission is $10 (free for ages 5 and under.) You-pick sunflowers are available for $1 per stem. Wildflowers are 6 for $1. Bring a bucket and clippers. Follow them on Facebook for updates.
Howard Family Farm
Howard Family Farm U-pick flowers, including a sunflower patch. Check with them about their schedule and pricing. They also have lots of produce for purchase! Howard Family Farm is in Harmony, in Iredell County, about an hour or so north of Charlotte. 250 Crater Road, Harmony. Follow them on Facebook for updates.
Carrigan Farms
Carrigan Farms, at 1261 Oakridge Farm Hwy, Mooresville, is popular for its apple picking, hayrides, haunted trail and swim quarry. Carrigan Farms has a sunflower field, which will bloom in late summer and early fall.
Bush-n-Vine
Bush-n-Vine Farm, 1650 Filbert Hwy, York, South Carolina, plants sunflowers every year. The sunflower fields will be in bloom in September and October.
There’s an admission charge to the sunflower field (in 2023 it was $5 per person and included one sunflower stem) and a charge for additional sunflowers (in 2023 it was $2 per stem or $12 per dozen.) An additional flower patch features zinnias, black-eyed-susans and more.
Please check Bush-n-Vine’s website about their policy for professional photographers.
Throughout the year, Bush-n-Vine also offers U-pick strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches and pumpkins. Look for updates here.
Lineberger’s Maple Springs Farm
Lineberger’s Maple Springs Farm, 906 Dallas Stanley Hwy, Dallas, also offers u-cut sunflowers. They typically have a crop in July and another crop in October. The first crop is expected to bloom around July 25, 2024. There is no admission charge and stems are $1 each.
Pockets of Poppies
Pockets of Poppies is a flower farm at 6515 Love Mill Road, Monroe, grows a variety of flowers, including sunflowers. You can go out there and take pictures and cut flowers to take home. There’s no charge to visit, just for what you cut. Make sure to check their website and Facebook page for operating hours.
Dogwood Farms
Dogwood Farms is a flower farm at 8096 Belews Creek Road, Belews Creek, in Forsyth County. This is northwest of Greensboro, so it’s about 97 miles from Charlotte, but they take their sunflowers really seriously here! They hold U-cut days every day of sunflower season. It will cost $10 to go into the fields and $1 a stem. Cosmos and zinnias are $6 for a dozen. The sunflower, cosmo and zinnia fields should be opening starting in July. Look for updates on their Facebook page.
Springs Farm
In some past years, Springs Farm, at 1010 Springfield Parkway, Fort Mill, South Carolina, had planted a sunflower field and even had planned a Sunflower Festival. We will update here if we learn that they will have a sunflower field in 2024.
Waxhaw/Weddington Sunflower Fields
In previous years, the fields at the corner of Providence Road and Ennis Road have been planted with sunflowers. These have bloomed later in the season, around August. We don’t know the farmer’s plans for 2024. Here’s a good article about the Waxhaw Sunflower Fields, but it’s from 2019.
15 Fun Sunflower Facts
There’s something magical about a sunflower, and people can’t resist being drawn to them. Here are some interesting sunflower facts!
- They are native to America.
- They need 6 to 8 hours of sun a day.
- They “keep their eye” on the sun. Young blossoms, in a behavior called “heliotropism,” will follow the sun during the day.
- The French word for sunflower is “tournesol,” which literally means “turns with the sun.”
- Mature sunflowers face east.
- The tallest sunflower on record was over 30 feet tall, but your typical tall sunflower reaches 12 to 16 feet.
- Dwarf sunflowers generally stay under 3 feet.
- The sunflower’s head is actually made of thousands of smaller flowers.
- U.S. astronaut Don Pettit brought sunflower seeds into space in 2012, and blogged about the the gardening process.
- Sunflowers have been used in foods, medicines, dyes and oils.
- You can use sunflowers as a homemade scrubbing pad.
- Not all sunflowers are yellow. There are also red and purple varieties.
- Sunflowers can self-pollinate if no bees are around to transfer pollen to the stigma. The stigma can twist around to reach its own pollen, and in that case, will produce seeds that grow into plants identical to the one they came from.
- There are about 70 species of sunflowers.
- Sunflowers are sometimes used for biofuel.
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Jill says
The Fields at Sunflower Trail in Mocksville. They have a FB page