Sunflowers

Sunflower Field at Dix Park

Update 7/25: The sunflowers are finished blooming for 2022. See you next summer!

The Sunflower Field is located off Hunt Drive near the former soccer fields and the historic cemetery.
Sunflower Field is free to visit 7 days-a-week, from dawn until dusk.
Weekday sunflower parking is available in gravel lot off Hunt Drive and in the parking lot near the Magnolia Room off Umstead Drive.
On weeknights and weekends, visitors are welcome to use any paved lot.
Take the Greenway to Dix Park via Rocky Branch or Centennial Bikeway Connector.

We love seeing your sunflower photos! Tag us on social media: @dixpark | #DixParkSunflowers | #DixPark

Know Before You Go

To see the sunflowers up close, walking up and down hills, in grass and on uneven surfaces will be necessary.
We recommend outdoor essentials like sunscreen, hats, bug spray and close-toed shoes.
Please stay on the paths in the field and keep children and pets from straying into the sunflowers.
Please do not pick the flowers!
Pets must be kept on a leash and pick up after them.
Port-a-johns are located near the Sunflower Field and Magnolia Room.
Indoor restrooms are available in the The Chapel during visitor hours.
NC Department of Health and Human Services employees work on the campus Monday -Friday. Please be respectful of their working environment and avoid all buildings and DHHS parking areas during business hours.

Accessibility

Currently, portions of Dix Park - including around the sunflower field - have uneven paths and surfaces, and are not fully accessible for all mobility needs. Accessibility is a primary focus for park improvements, planning and development. Learn more about Accessibility at Dix Park.

Planning a visit to Dix Park and have other questions about accessibility? Contact Joseph Voska, Program & Operations Supervisor at 919-996-6688 or Joseph.Voska@raleighnc.gov.

Professional Photography

Professional photographers are welcome to have photo shoots/sessions at the Dix Park Sunflower Field, however, all commercial film or photography in a City of Raleigh Park requires a permit. You can apply for an annual film permit directly through the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department. This is a one year permit and covers all City of Raleigh Parks. To apply for the permit, please contact Kathryn Gebhardt with the Raleigh Parks at 919-996-4510 or kathryn.gebhardt@raleighnc.gov.

What is Not Allowed

Picking/cutting the flowers & eating the sunflower seeds
Off-leash pets
Outside alcoholic beverages
Smoking or vaping
Weapons of any kind
Littering
Drones or other aerial devices. These are welcome on the Big Field only.

Dix Park Sunflower Facts

Our sunflower field is a City of Raleigh effort between Raleigh Water, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources and the Office of Sustainability.
Raleigh Water preps the field in spring and plants the sunflower seeds in mid-May. In 2022:
- 198,000 seeds were planted, which equals 25lbs of seed.
- Clearfield Sunflower Seeds is the variety planted.
Raleigh Parks waters and maintains the field as the flowers grow.
The sunflower field serves as a massive pollinator habitat for bees and other species. Learn more about the City's Pollinator Protection Projects.
After the bloom is over, Raleigh Water harvests the sunflowers at Dix Park to process biodiesel for educational programs and demonstrations.

Search form