Facts about Sunflowers

 🎕SUNFLOWER FACTS🎕

It is such a beautiful day!! There are so many things to see and do. Have you ever seen a field full of sunflowers? It is such a beautiful sight. You could take a trip to the sunflower field with your caretaker or parents this weekend. Did you know that sunflowers need at least eight hours of sun a day?

What is your favorite type of flower?

Facts about Sunflowers:

1. Helianthus is the scientific name for sunflowers. Sunflowers belong to the genus Helianthus. Their scientific name comes from the Greek words helios (meaning sun) and anthos (meaning flower). There are over 60 species of flowering plants in the daisy family, and sunflowers are one of those 60.

2. Sunflowers are mainly native to North and South America.

3. Sunflowers always face the east in the morning, waiting for the sun to shine. Throughout the day, the sunflower can move towards the sun. When the sun sets in the west, the sunflowers make a 180-degree turn towards the west. During the nighttime hours, the sunflower turns back towards the east, so when the sun rises, it will get all the warm sunshine, and the pattern continues east to west until the sunflower ages and is unable to move anymore.

4. The most common color of sunflowers is yellow. Sunflowers come in various colors: yellow, red, orange, maroon, and brown. The common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) has impressive flower heads up to 12 inches wide in cultivated types. The disk flowers at the center are brown, yellow, or purple, while the petal-like ray flowers are yellow.

5. The tallest sunflower ever grown reached 30 feet and 1 inch tall. It was grown by Hans-Peter Schiffer, who lives in Germany. He used the Kong Sunflower seed. Most average sunflowers grow from 6 feet to 10 feet tall.

6. At the end of the sunflower season, the sunflowers are harvested, and the seeds are dried out. Once the seeds have dried out, people can eat them. Sunflower seeds are sold in stores worldwide. 

7. Depending on the species, sunflowers can be annuals or perennials. Annuals only grow once, while perennials can come back the following year. 

8. The wild sunflower is the official state flower for Kansas. Sunflowers are the national flowers of both Russia and Ukraine.

9. Bees love sunflowers. They carry pollen from one sunflower to another, which helps produce the seeds in the sunflower. There are two types of pollination: cross-pollination and self-pollination. The bees cross-pollinate when visiting each sunflower, and the sunflower itself self-pollinates. 

10. Sunflower seeds are packed with calcium, making them a perfect healthy snack.

Share a fact about sunflowers with us.

Books about Sunflowers:

1. Little Sunflower by IglooBooks

2. The Sunflower Story by Edith Heiskell

3. Sunflower's Summer Day by Dianne Silve

4. The Sunflower Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs

5. The Wonderful World of Sunflowers by Mimi Jones

Sunflower fields are like golden carpets stretching across the landscape. Here are some stunning sunflower fields you should consider visiting:

Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area in Knoxville, Tennessee:

A 70-acre field hosts a sunflower festival in July (especially during odd-numbered years). Even during even-numbered years, smaller fields offer a spectacular sight.

Coppal House Farm’s Sunflower Fields in Lee, New Hampshire:

The annual sunflower festival attracts tourists. Memorable “Sunrise in the Sunflowers” days allow for early access to capture stunning morning photos.

McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area in Poolesville, Maryland:

A 30-acre lot planted for local wildlife. Visitors can take photographs but not pick flowers.

Babbette’s Seeds of Hope Sunflower Maze in Eau Claire, Wisconsin:

Get lost in a field of sunflowers in this cheerful alternative to a corn maze.

Remember, sunflower fields are not only beautiful, they play a vital role in wildlife conservation and provide delightful photo opportunities. Go make lots of memories!