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 just meant 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.
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Charlotte on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. It's also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
Sunflower fields near Charlotte
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.
Oddie’s Sunflower Field
Oddie’s Sunflower Field, at 2890 Oddie Road, Salisbury, will have sunflowers all through the summer of 2022. The second crop is blooming right now. (This update is being written July 27th, 2022.) There will be multiple sunflower crops mid-June through September. Follow Oddie’s Sunflower Field on Facebook for updates for announcements about when the flowers are blooming.
It’s free to visit, although donations were appreciated. There is a donation box at the field. Please do donate as generously as you can.
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 field.
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 clippers and some vases. Cut some flowers, create a bouquet in your favorite vase, 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.
Draper Wildlife Management Area Sunflower Field
Sunflowers are planted every year at Draper Wildlife Management Area, 1080 Draper Road, McConnells, South Carolina. The flowers should be blooming in early July.
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, pictured below, that ends in a circle. Walk the path on the left, through the woods, to get to the sunflower fields. We understand that there are also sunflower fields that you get to from the path on the right.
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.
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 return in September.
Bush-n-Vine
Bush-n-Vine Farm, 1650 Filbert Hwy, York, South Carolina, plants sunflowers every year. The sunflower fields open in early July, and should be open through late September.
Admission to the sunflower field is $2 per person and includes one sunflower stem per person. Additional sunflowers are $2 per stem or $12 per dozen. There’s another flower patch with zinnias, gomphrena and black-eyed susans. Cut your own flowers from this field for $7 per dozen.
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.
Wise Acres
Wise Acres, at 4701 Hartis Road, in Indian Trail, is known for its strawberry fields and farm activities for kids. Their sunflower season is an early one, running through July 17th.
In past years, the cost varies depending on the day of the week, and whether you want pizza. Reservations are always required. Without pizza the cost os $3 per person, with kids 2 and under admitted for free. You’ll get to spend three hours on the farm to take pictures with the sunflowers, play on the playground, meet the animals and participate in a scavenger hunt.
Sunflowers are $1 per stem. Please bring a vase or bucket for transport.
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.)
Lineberger’s Maple Springs Farm
Lineberger’s Maple Springs Farm, 906 Dallas Stanley Hwy, Dallas, is another place that has planted sunflower fields in some past years. We’ll update when learn about their 2022 plans.
Kersey Valley Attractions
Kersey Valley Attractions, 1615 Kersey Valley Road, Archdale, plants over 350,000 sunflowers. General admission is $15 per person, and that includes one stem to take home. The fields are in bloom in mid-September. Archdale is a little more than an hour northeast of Charlotte. Reserve your time slot online.
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. The cost is $8 to go into the fields and $1 a stem. Cosmos and zinnias are $6 for a dozen. The sunflower, cosmo and zinnia fields will be open 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 2022.
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. They have sunflowers, dahlias, and many other summer flowers. They operate by appointment only. Look for updates on their Facebook page.
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 2022. Here’s a good article about the Waxhaw Sunflower Fields.
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.
Draper Wildlife Management Area, McConnells, SC
Carrigan Farms
Charlotte on the Cheap is a member of 
