# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 16 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Common Sunflower, Garden Sunflower ![Sunflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Helianthus_annuus_exposed_2004-05-22.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jon Sullivan, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Helianthus_annuus_exposed_2004-05-22.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Helianthus ## 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 - **Sun Tracker:** Sunflower can turn its head to follow the sun across the sky, helping it warm up faster and attract more pollinators. - **Seed Factory:** Sunflower has a gigantic head packed with hundreds of seeds, which helps it reproduce many new plants. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-goldfinch) (*Spinus tristis*) — Feeds on ripe sunflower seeds in late summer and fall. - **Depends on:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Cultivates sunflowers for edible seeds and oil production. ## Traits - [Annual](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/annual): Annual plants complete their entire life cycle, from germination to seed production, within a single growing season. - [Herbaceous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Oil Crop](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) ## 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 to identify Sunflower? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Congress Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/congress-avenue-historic-district) — Texas, US · Historic District - [Crystal Cove Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-cove-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Houston Arboretum and Nature Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/houston-arboretum-and-nature-center) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Morrill County Courthouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/morrill-county-courthouse) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site - [Metropolitan Park Bathhouse and Pool Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/metropolitan-park-bathhouse-and-pool-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Cameron Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cameron-park-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo [View all places to see Sunflower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/sunflower) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Sunflower: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sunflower)