Facts About Sunflowers
October 26th, 2005They’re tall and bright, striking and unusual, sunflowers are one of the most fun flowers to grow. Read on to discover some fascinating facts about these sunny, yellow flowers!
1. The name sunflower comes from its scientific name, Helianthus. Helios means sun and Anthos means flower.
2. Sunflowers have a long history. Remains of sunflower seeds found in archaeological digs in North America date them as nearly 3,000 years old.
3. There are lots of different varieties of sunflower, but the most common form is bright yellow, with dark brown centres filled with seeds.
4. Sunflowers are believed to have first originated in Europe in the early 1500s. The seeds, as well as the flowers themselves, were brought over by Spanish settlers returning to visit relatives.
5. As well as being grown for pleasure by members of the public, sunflowers are also grown commercially. Part of the commercial growing focuses on producing edible seeds and the other half is concerned with producing sunflower oil. Every mature flower is able to yield 40% of its weight as oil.
6. The Aztecs were fascinated by sunflowers, which often towered high above the ground. In fact, they even ended up worshipping sunflowers and used images of the distinctive flowers in their temples.
7. In the past, stems of sunflowers were used inside life jackets.
8. Sunflowers are well known as having the ability to grow very tall! As well as having a long stem, the heads of sunflowers can be equally huge.
9. In recent years, a form of low-pollen sunflower has been created. As well as helping to reduce the risk of asthma for pollen sufferers, it’s also helped extend the life of the flower itself.
10. New varieties of sunflowers are continuously being developed. Some of the newer forms are orange, tan or maroon in colour, or even have striped petals. Plus, they have greeny yellow centres instead of the distinctive brown one we all know and love.
And lastly, do you know where in America is known as The Sunflower State?
Answer: Kansas.
October 26th, 2005 at 6:47 pm
My favorite thing about sunflowers isn’t mentioned here. A sunflower will turn its fact toward the sun. Watch them sometime. It’s fascinating. In the morning they face east, in the afternoon, south and in the evening they face west. I wonder if that is how they got their name? Anyone know?
October 26th, 2005 at 6:50 pm
Sunflowers are beautiful and very popular today. Love those seeds.
October 26th, 2005 at 8:06 pm
Sunflower seeds are great with beer. LOL
October 27th, 2005 at 5:56 am
Great to read about sunflowers! They’re a really fun flower to grow and my kids love the fact that they get so tall.
October 27th, 2005 at 5:50 pm
Grandma always plants sunflowers with my brother and I. Some beautiful birds come to eat the seeds.
October 28th, 2005 at 3:27 am
I love sunflowers and yes, they do turn toward the sun.
October 28th, 2005 at 5:50 pm
I try to plant sunflowers every year with the kids. This year they didn’t do well. Even though we staked them, they collapsed and the heads grew only a few seeds, which never ripened. I’ve never had this problem before, so wonder if it was the weather this year.
October 28th, 2005 at 9:44 pm
The Aztecs were fascinated by sunflowers, which often towered high above the ground. In fact, they even ended up worshipping sunflowers and used images of the distinctive flowers in their temples.
I find this intriguing. I can’t imagine anyone worshipping sunflowers, but can see why the Aztecs found them so fascinating.
Doris, I have watched sunflowers and they do indeed move their faces toward the sun. They are beautiful and unique.
March 27th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
are sunflower seeds angiosperm or gymnosperm are they vascular or nonvascular
April 12th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
are sunflowers vascular or nonvascular and how do they reproduce
May 4th, 2007 at 9:29 am
sunflowers always reminds me of sweet summer time and just picking them and eating the seeds with my boyfriend jordan
just have so much fun cooking them and eatting them mmmmmmmm good
May 24th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
my school are planting them to see whos is the best do you have any tips?
June 3rd, 2007 at 9:49 am
I think Sunflowers are great because they are good for planting at the bottom of our garden because its dark and it brightens it up.
October 11th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
i think they are soooo beautiful. and the seeds lol
October 16th, 2007 at 9:26 am
i love sunflowers and there seeds. with the seeds my mom makes sunflower seed pie!!
October 16th, 2007 at 9:28 am
i love sunflowers
October 16th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
I’m doing a project for school.. what would be the procedures to grow sunflowers.. please help..
October 28th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
sunflowers are pretty!!!
November 15th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
i need to know if “sunnies” are angiosperms or gymnosperms, anyone know ?