ExplorePlants

Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Sunflowers are tall, bright flowers that follow the sun from sunrise to sunset. Their seeds are tasty and loved by birds and squirrels.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Sunflower has a stout, hairy stem topped by a single, large flower head. Its vibrant yellow ray petals encircle a dense disc of tiny dark brown or purplish florets. It stands tall, often much taller than a person.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusHelianthus
Sunflower
annual trait badgeherbaceous trait badgeflowering trait badgeornamental trait badge
Sunflower

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

A single sunflower head is actually made of thousands of tiny flowers!

Sunflower oil is used in cooking and even to make biodiesel fuel for cars!

The pattern of seeds in a sunflower often follows a special math spiral called Fibonacci.

The tallest sunflower ever recorded grew over 9 meters (30 feet) tall!

Special abilities

Ability

Sun Tracker

Sunflower can turn its head to follow the sun across the sky, helping it warm up faster and attract more pollinators.

Ability

Seed Factory

Sunflower has a gigantic head packed with hundreds of seeds, which helps it reproduce many new plants.

Ability

Soil Cleaner

Sunflower can absorb harmful toxins like lead from the soil, helping to clean up polluted land.

Measurements & details

Height
150-400 cm
Spread
30-60 cm
Flower Size
10-30 cm
Bloom Season
Summer to early fall
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Annual
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Visits flowers to collect nectar and pollen.

eaten by

American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis

Feeds on ripe sunflower seeds in late summer and fall.

depends on

Human

Homo sapiens

Cultivates sunflowers for edible seeds and oil production.

Traits

Annual badge

Annual

Annual plants complete their entire life cycle, from germination to seed production, within a single growing season.

Herbaceous badge

Herbaceous

Herbaceous plants are non-woody plants with soft stems that typically die back to the ground at the end of the growing season.

Flowering badge

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Ornamental badge

Ornamental

Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.

Shade Tolerant badge

Shade Tolerant

Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.

Summer Blooming badge

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Fruit Bearing badge

Fruit Bearing

Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.

Oil Crop badge

Oil Crop

This human use trait identifies species cultivated as oil crops, harvested for their seeds or fruits from which vegetable oils are extracted for food, fuel, or industrial uses.

Edible badge

Edible

Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.

Grassland badge

Grassland

Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

Pollinator Magnet badge

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Rapid Growing badge

Rapid Growing

Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

Ancient Lineage badge

Ancient Lineage

This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.

Also known as

Common SunflowerGarden Sunflower

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Enjoy the beauty of sunflowers from a safe distance and avoid picking them in the wild.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Sunflower?

150-400 cm

How wide does Sunflower spread?

30-60 cm

How big are the flowers on Sunflower?

10-30 cm

When does Sunflower bloom?

Summer to early fall

Is Sunflower edible?

Yes

Is Sunflower toxic?

None

What is Sunflower's lifecycle?

Annual

How is Sunflower pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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Recent Snaps

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Where to spot

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