12 Sunflower Insights for New Garden Enthusiasts

One of the reasons sunflowers stand out is due to their vibrant appearance. Just observing them can brighten your spirits. (We’re not counting that among our sunflower facts; consider that a bonus!)

"Sunflowers bring joy to people," says Raleigh Wasser, horticulture manager at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, in an email. "It’s probably the bright petals surrounding the central face that captivates so many."

Resembling the sun, the vibrant yellow petals (often referred to as "rays") truly make these "happy flowers" an ideal gift to brighten someone's day. Yet, there’s far more to these joyful blooms than initially meets the eye.

1. They Come in Numerous Varieties

While you might envision yellow sunflowers, these flowers come in a range of sizes and hues, including red sunflowers. There are over 70 cultivars of Helianthus, with the most common species being Helianthus annuus — with Helianthus meaning helios (sun) and anthus (flower), according to Wasser.

"Across these species, there are many different colors and forms, ranging from tiny blooms to massive ones, and from yellow petals to red," he explains. "Widespread crossbreeding and hybridization have led to an impressive variety of cultivars, vastly expanding the spectrum of flower colors (ranging from bright to pastel shades of yellow, red, mahogany, bronze, white, and bi-colors) and head shapes (with short or long rays, and even doubles)."

"There are miniature varieties that reach only 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 centimeters) in height, as well as towering varieties that can grow up to 15 feet (4.5 meters)," he adds. "The blooms on the towering varieties can reach diameters of 12 inches (30 centimeters). The disk flowers eventually give way to the familiar sunflower seeds."

2. They're Simple to Grow

Sunflower plants are so effortless to grow that, according to Wasser, they can even appear beneath bird feeders from seeds that have fallen by chance.

Generally speaking, he adds, if you wish to plant them, it’s best to sow the seeds directly into the soil once the threat of frost is gone in spring. Alternatively, you can start the seeds indoors and later transplant the sunflower seedlings.

You can plant perennial sunflowers from the Helianthus genus (as opposed to annuals) during either spring or fall. Seeds will typically sprout within seven to ten days, and depending on the variety, sunflowers will begin to bloom after a couple of months, with flowers maturing and developing seeds in 80 to 120 days, depending on growing conditions.

"For most garden soils, you don't need fertilizer," says Wasser. "Even in poor soil, a light application of slow-release granular fertilizer is enough. These flowers are drought-resistant and thrive with occasional watering during dry spells."

When young and with an underdeveloped root system, sunflowers may require staking, particularly if they’re tall and developing a heavy flower head. Ensure the roots have enough space and the soil is loose enough to spread.

3. The Tallest Sunflower Reached 30 Feet (9 Meters)

In 2014, Guinness World Records confirmed that Hans-Peter Schiffer set a new record with his giant sunflower, which reached a height of over 30 feet (9.17 meters).

4. Extending the Life of the Rays is Challenging

Once a sunflower is planted and begins to bloom, there’s not much you can do to prolong the life of its rays. "If the variety has multiple stems, the grower can deadhead spent flowers to focus growth on the remaining buds," explains Wasser.

If you plan to cut the flowers and display them in a vase, Wasser recommends changing the water every two to three days to maintain freshness.

When you refresh the water, be sure to cut the stems at a 45-degree angle (do this while they’re submerged under warm running water). Also, keep the cut flowers away from direct sunlight and high humidity.

5. Sunflowers Thrive in Abundant Sunlight

Ideally, sunflowers should receive full sun for at least eight hours daily, according to Wasser. "When they get all the sunlight they need," he explains, "they will reward you with vibrant blooms that last through the summer and sometimes even into fall."

While sunlight is the most critical factor, taller varieties of sunflowers — such as 'Sunzilla,' which can grow up to 16 feet (4.8 meters) tall — also need protection from strong winds, Wasser adds.

6. They Can Follow the Sun’s Movement

Young sunflower buds exhibit a fascinating behavior known as solar tracking. On sunny days, they follow the sun’s path across the sky from east to west, returning to face east by dawn. However, once mature, sunflowers remain fixed in one direction, with their stems stiffening and facing eastward.

Wild sunflowers, commonly seen along roadsides, do not engage in solar tracking. When they reach maturity, their flower heads point in various directions. However, their leaves do show some degree of solar tracking.

7. Greek Mythology Explains Why Sunflowers Always Face the Sun

In Greek mythology, the tale of the nymph Clytie and Helios, the sun god, is one filled with love and betrayal. Initially, Helios reciprocates Clytie's love, but soon he betrays her and falls for Leucothea, the daughter of Orchamus.

Consumed by jealousy, Clytie reveals Leucothea's relationship with Helios to her father. In his anger, Helios punishes Clytie by burying her alive. Despite this, Clytie continues to love him, lying without food or water for nine days, gazing at the sun.

On the ninth day, Clytie transforms into a flower — either the heliotrope or the sunflower — and forever faces toward the sun.

8. Sunflowers Are a Key Food Source

Originally cultivated by Native Americans in what is now Arizona and New Mexico around 3000 B.C.E., sunflowers have a long history as a food source. Some archaeologists even believe that sunflowers were domesticated before corn.

Various Native American tribes utilized the sunflower plants in numerous ways: the seeds were ground or crushed into flour to make cakes, mush, or bread; some tribes mixed the flour with other vegetables like beans, squash, and corn; and the cracked seeds were eaten as a snack.

There are also accounts of them extracting oil from the seeds, which was then used to bake bread.

9. A Single Sunflower Produces Approximately 1,000 Seeds

A sunflower head can yield anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 seeds. While the appearance of each seed can vary, the most common variety used for snacking has a distinctive black-and-white striped hull.

Other varieties of sunflower seeds, such as the white or black seeds, are entirely edible but are mostly used for different purposes, like the production of sunflower oil.

10. Sunflower Seeds Can Be Harvested

If you want to harvest edible sunflower seeds, grow the annual variety (Helianthus annuus). "Make sure to collect the flowers after the leaves have dried but before the seasonal rains arrive," advises Wasser. "The flower heads, along with 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm) of the stalk, need to hang in a dry, well-ventilated area for about a month before you can extract the seeds."

Once you’ve completed the drying process, why not try roasting the seeds?

11. Sunflower Oil Can Be Made at Home

Homemade sunflower seed oil can serve multiple purposes, from cooking to beauty products. One recipe calls for 35 pounds (15.8 kilograms) of sunflower seeds, which yields about 3 gallons (11.3 liters) of oil. This means, if you're growing your own sunflowers, you would need the seeds from roughly 140 plants!

12. Sunflowers Are the National Flower of Ukraine

Ukraine has historically been the largest exporter of sunflower oil worldwide. The Spaniards introduced sunflowers to Europe in the 17th century, and by the mid-18th century, they reached Ukraine, where they became widely cultivated across the country.