One is the oilseed type with its small black seeds and the other is the non-oil type producing larger seeds and a thicker hull (casing that surrounds the seed). There are two types of sunflowers that continue to be grown en masse. Plus, sunflowers themselves are often for sale by florists and are commonly used for gift-giving. Medicinally, sunflowers were used by extracting juices from the sunflower stem to treat open wounds as well as by infusing sunflowers in water to drink for kidney treatments and chest pain.Īlthough sunflowers are no longer used as a medicine, they are still cultivated on a large scale for agricultural purposes to be used as food and in cosmetics. Originally, sunflowers were cultivated by Native American tribes for use in medicines and for food. Common varieties include:Īnnual sunflowers have been specially bred to produce a range of different colors including yellows, reds, and vibrant golds. It typically grows to approximately 20″ tall. The Dwarf Sunflower is native to southwestern parts of the United States and is commonly found in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. The Giant Sunflower is native to the United States and parts of Canada and grow up to 13 feet in height. The most popular types of sunflowers include: Giant Sunflowers ( Helianthus giganteus) The Helianthus annuusis the most popular species of the sunflower which can grow in giant, dwarf, and colored varieties. But most commonly, they grow with bright yellow florets the emulate the sun and a flower head that “follows” the sun. Sunflowers grow in a wide range of colors and sizes. Sunflowers typically grow in the summer and early fall, peaking in mid-summer. Helianthus annuus is the species we know as common sunflowers.įun Fact: Technically, sunflowers are thousands of tiny flowers all blooming together to create what we know as a single sunflower. All but three Helianthus species are native to North America and Central America. Sunflowers are part of the Helianthus genus which is made up of 70 species of plants. Historically, sunflowers have been used in Incan religious ceremonies, as medicine among Native American tribes, and as the focal point of iconic artworks throughout Europe and Asia. Sunflowers come up in ancient Greek mythology and its species name is derived from the Greek language: Helioanthus with helios meaning sun and anthosmeaning flower. Once Europeans reached the ‘New World,’ sunflowers were brought back to their countries and gained worldwide popularity. Sunflowers originated in the Americas and were first domesticated in present-day Mexico as well as in what’s now the Southern US dating back to 2100 BCE. Botanical Characteristics of Sunflowers.
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