A MAN from Launceston has grown what is believed to be the tallest sunflower in town, standing at just over 9ft with 27 flowers and buds blooming.

Roy Sanders, a keen gardener who lives with his wife, has nurtured and tended to the sunflower in his garden ever since his son asked to plant it there.

Roy told the Post: “I’ve never seen anything quite like it!”

He explained that the key to growing a good, sturdy sunflower is down to water and care.

“I regularly water it; each day I give it about a gallon of water, and occasionally a pinch of fertiliser. But mostly, I just water it religiously.”

Roy never expected the flower to grow to such a height, but said they usually get quite tall anyway.

Sunflowers normally have one big stem and one big flower at the top, sometimes three, so Roy’s sunflower is quite a rarity.

He added: “It’s amazing how many people stop by and say ‘well I never!’ at the sight of the flower. The question is, what to do next with all the seeds that have come from it — perhaps the birds will have an extra feed.”