The common sunflower, Helianthus annuus, is probably one of the widely recognised flowers on Earth.
Native to a range across the US, from Mexico in the south to Canada in the north, the sunflower is now grown virtually everywhere apart from areas of desert and permanent cold. There are numerous cultivated selections, some used for commercial production of sunflower oil while others are grown in gardens.
Helianthus ‘Baby Face’ will produce a lot of seeds it seems
Helianthus annuus is, as its species name tells us, an annual. I find annual plants remarkable at the best of times; I’m impressed by how quickly they can germinate, grow, flower and set seed before their inevitable death. Sunflowers do all of this, but can also tower above me and have flowerheads larger than my face.
Yet when we think of sunflowers we tend to think of them being for children. They’re easy to germinate and grow, and are very spectacular too; sunflowers are probably the very best plant to choose if you want to introduce children to gardening.
For Adults Too
Sunflowers aren’t just for children though.
The breeding of the annual sunflowers has come a long way over the years, and gardeners can now enjoy red ones, fluffy ones, or even just paler lemon versions of the traditional rich golden varieties. Some will tower above even the tallest adult while others are short and stout – great for windy sites but also for use in our garden borders.
Not everyone will like Helianthus ‘Teddy Bear’
Agricultural varieties focus on yield of seed oils while the diversity of garden varieties is being driven primarily by floristry. Sunflowers have enjoyed a resurgence as a cut flower during the last two decades, and there is a great demand for them now.
The great artist Vincent Van Gogh loved sunflowers, and even prior to his two famous series of paintings featuring sunflowers he had painted them in the landscape. However his still life paintings of sunflowers in vases are considered iconic to the point of being a part of our collective human culture. How sad that his work wasn’t appreciated during his lifetime, but then if it had been I wonder if that would affect how these paintings are regarded today?
The Things Sunflowers Do
If you ask someone to tell you something a sunflower does they will probably tell you that the flowers follow the sun.
Unfortunately this isn’t really true. Sometimes the buds will follow the sun to a degree, but the flowers themselves usually all face the same way, nearly always facing the rising sun in the east. If sunflowers followed the sun then it would beg the question of how they reset themselves each night, and why their stems didn’t become so twisted that their flowerheads fell off!
Helianthus ‘Ms Mars’, perfect for gardeners less keen on yellow
However sunflowers have a number of very interesting habits, traits and abilities. They are able to remove pollutants from soil and water, both heavy metals and certain radioactive materials. Sunflower seeds are eaten by people and animals, while sunflower oil is used in cooking/foods and the production of soap. The flowers themselves – tiny individuals gathered together with a ring of petals around them – are loved by a wide range of insects.
There are also strong indications that sunflowers exhibit certain cooperative habits, linked – somewhat controversially – to the idea that plants show certain traits that suggest rudimentary intelligence. Sunflowers grown close together will angle their flowers in such a way that they can be exposed to the maximum amount of sunshine, but there are indications that plants will choose positions that favour the flowerheads of their neighbours too. At the other end of the plants it appears that roots are more inclined to grow in ways that avoid conflict with their neighbours, rather than following the survival of the fittest idea laid out by Charles Darwin.
There’s more to sunflowers than you might think
The idea of plants showing signs of intelligence is controversial and will remain so for some time. However the behaviours of sunflowers, and some other plants too, call into question the idea that life for plants is a fight for survival, instead suggesting that at least some plants succeed through cooperation.
Reclaiming Sunflowers
The idea that sunflowers might show some traits of intelligence must surely make them a bit more appealing for gardeners?
Sunflowers aren’t just pretty, and they’re not just things we grow as a temporary crop to improve poor soil before we plant something else.
Helianthus ‘Procut Plum’ is very cheerful
These are plants we should be growing for their own merit, to add drama to our gardens rather than just to entertain children.
Above all sunflowers are very happy flowers. There’s a sunflower for everyone, a little pocket of joy in a world of despair and misery.
This, above all things, must surely make them worth growing.
Sunflowers are beautiful, but I don’t grow them…Sunflowers contain latex (for those who might want to know). How do I know this? Sunflowers used to grow all over my backyard. I practically grew a field of lovely sunflowers.
Every summer for 7 years I broke out in huge hives = lots of doc visits and steroid packs. I was certain I had poison ivy. The thought was the dogs got poison ivy sap on their fur. It took just one time seeing my arm develop a long red streak along with welts after a casual brush with a tall sunflower that I realized the sunflower was the culprit. I already knew I was allergic to latex, but didn’t realize sunflowers contained latex. (You are welcome to verify this.) Latex allergies are fairly common.
Genuinely didn’t know that about them, and I’m sorry that you have an allergy to them.
I was interested in the idea so did in fact look it up; it seems there is research underway to find clones of sunflowers that will yield commercial quantities of latex for industry. Interesting, but sadly not helpful in your situation.
When the Ukrainian refugee neighbors came over to visit my garden and saw all the giant sunflowers, some 12 – 13′ tall, they were delighted.
That’s brilliant. A great example of the cultural impact of these flowers.
I’ve given up on sunflowers because of the blasted squirrels. And I’m really restraining my language. They rip the heads off, carry them away to devour, ride the stalks to the ground.
Wretched squirrels. I guess everything is trying to live, but if they could leave one or two behind that would be fairer.
Squirrels are just rats with good (Disney) PR!
Sunflowers are great garden volunteers too. I always keep a few of the ones planted by the birds. Birdseed sunflowers always seem to grow into massive multi stem trees sometimes in awkward spots but I can’t resist their stalwart personalities and the birds look forward to harvesting their crop.
Yes they certainly can do very well if you let them grow.
And a natural bird feeder too – excellent!
Being from Texas, I’m a fan of our native roadside sunflowers. I’ve grown the common form in gardens, where they show real character. They support so many insects and birds. I think I’ll grow some next year.
Thanks for the reminder, Ben!
They must be quite the charming site as you drive from A to B.
I thoroughly enjoyed this post! It’s refreshing to see sunflowers appreciated for their incredible diversity and not just as a childhood gardening project. Thanks for sharing such insightful information.
Thank you for another informative article and lovely photos as well, Ben. I will grow some next year. I especially like the pink and near-black varieties.