The Main Plant entry for Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

This database entry exists to show plant data and photos that apply generically to all Sunflowers.

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Herb/Forb
Life cycle:	Annual
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun
Water Preferences:	Mesic Dry Mesic Dry
Fruit:	Edible to birds
Flowers:	Showy
Uses:	Dye production
Edible Parts:	Fruit
Dynamic Accumulator:	Ca (Calcium) Mn (Manganese) Zn (Zinc) Cu (Copper)
Resistances:	Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds:	Self fertile Sow in situ
Pollinators:	Flies Bees

Common names

Common Sunflower
Sunflower
Kansas Sunflower

Photo Gallery

Location: My garden in eastern Massachusetts
Date: 2017-09-09

Uploaded by LCL

Uploaded by pixie62560

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by aikenforflowers

Location: Charleston, SC
Date: 2013-06-10

Uploaded by scvirginia

Location: My Garden, Utah
Date: 2014-09-20

Uploaded by dirtdorphins

Location: IL
Date: 2015-09-01
#Pollination Golden Northern Bumble Bee & Common Eastern Bumble B

Uploaded by molanic

Location: In my garden in Oklahoma City, OK
Date: 06 - 01 - 2008
Annual Sunflower Composite

Uploaded by jathton

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2017-12-21

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by dirtdorphins

Location: an Oklahoma City garden
Date: 2017-09-04
Bees are buzzin'

Uploaded by jathton

Location: my garden, UT
Date: 2016-07-18
#Pollination

Uploaded by dirtdorphins

Uploaded by pixie62560

Location: In my garden in Oklahoma City, OK
Botanical interpretation of the Fibonacci Sequence

Uploaded by jathton

Uploaded by Aamie

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-08-29

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: my Zone 7b garden in North Georgia Mountains
Date: 2023-07-05
This multi-flower sunflower planted itself in my garden. It is o

Uploaded by LoriMT

Location: Ontario Canada
Date: 2020-08-09
Zoom in 👍☺️

Uploaded by Universal_G

Location: Nora's Garden - Castlegar, B.C.
Date: 2018-07-17
A wonderful sideview.

Uploaded by HemNorth

Location: Fairfax, Virginia (April 2022)
Date: 2022-04-25

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Home pasture
Date: 2020-07-23
By KYgal

Uploaded by KYgal

Uploaded by jimard8

Location: Ingleside. Illinois
Date: 2021-07-25

Uploaded by antsinmypants

Location: in my friend's garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 09-22-2015
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

Uploaded by jathton

Location: My yard in Arlington, Texas.
Date: Summer 2000
Common Sunflower against the Texas sky.

Uploaded by frostweed

Location: France
Image by Spencer C. H. Barrett, University of Toronto

Uploaded by greene

Location: Maine
Date: 8/25/2021
Sunflower Collection

Uploaded by pixie62560

Location: Garland, TX
Date: 2017-07-02
#pollination

Uploaded by lovemyhouse

Location: My Garden, Arvada, Colorado
Date: July
Sunflower - variety Tiger's Eye Mix from Seeds of Change

Uploaded by tabby

Location: Bolivar, Ohio
Date: 2024-07-13

Uploaded by JimKlaiber

Uploaded by pixie62560

Uploaded by pixie62560

Uploaded by pixie62560

Location: Chaumussay, France
Date: 2017-08-04
Fields full of sunflowers in this area of France

Uploaded by Yorkshirelass

Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2011-06-10

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by Fleur569

Location: Richmond, TX ( Zone 9a - In my daughter's backyard )
Date: April 22, 2020
Texas Sunflower and Monarch Butterfly

Uploaded by adc1947

Location: my Zone 7b garden in North Georgia Mountains
Date: 2023-07-05

Uploaded by LoriMT

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-08-13
tall screen

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Glendale, AZ
Date: 2020-09-10
Sunflower

Uploaded by RobGlen

Uploaded by ckatNM

Location: Hillsborough, NC, USA
Date: 2017-07-05

Uploaded by SummerStorm93

Uploaded by sedumzz

Uploaded by Fieldsof_flowers

Location: SD
Date: 4/22
Rays of Laughter

Uploaded by Fieldsof_flowers

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2016-08-23
#pollination

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2013-07-10

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Nora's Garden - Castlegar, B.C.
Date: 2012-07-25
The birds supplied the seed.

Uploaded by HemNorth

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-08-13

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: an Oklahoma City garden
Date: 2017-09-09
The Sunflower gets a visitor

Uploaded by jathton

Location: My Garden
Date: 2016-09-13
Pollen producer

Uploaded by GrammaChar

Location: Granite Falls, WA
Date: 2014-06-07

Uploaded by SherriRaye

Uploaded by Toni

Location: Columbus, Ohio USA, Zone 6b
Date: 2022-08-20

Uploaded by cwhitt

Location: My zone 8a north Georgia garden
Date: 2024-09-17

Uploaded by LoriMT

Location: Glendale, AZ
Date: 2020-08-27
Sunflower

Uploaded by RobGlen

Uploaded by PoppyLady420

Date: 2015-08-08
some kind of dwarf sunflower from CVS seed kit

Uploaded by keithp2012

Uploaded by RootedInDirt

Uploaded by RootedInDirt

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-08-14
w/ 3 tiny bees

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Imperial valley, CA
Date: 2024-05-14

Uploaded by landassic

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by pixie62560

Uploaded by Newyorkrita

Location: South Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: 2020-08-09

Uploaded by BlueOddish

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2016-09-01
#pollination Monarch

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: In my garden in Oklahoma City
Date: June 1, 2008
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) in Oklahoma City

Uploaded by jathton

Location: Columbus, Ohio USA, Zone 6b
Date: 8/27/20

Uploaded by cwhitt

Uploaded by 4susiesjoy

Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: 2021-06-07

Uploaded by Macrocentra

Uploaded by treehugger

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Back of My Garden , dry unplanted hill
Date: 2015-07-02
A self sown Wild Sunflower , Goldfinch likely , garden help from

Uploaded by jimard8

Location: in my garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 09-01-2017
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

Uploaded by jathton

Location: Easton, Pa. Backyard
Date: 2022-08-22

Uploaded by StefanoPip

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Date: 2021-09-18

Uploaded by BlueOddish

Location: Bolivar, Ohio
Date: 2023-07-28

Uploaded by JimKlaiber

Location: Mason, New Hampshire
Date: 2019-08-17
photo credit: Robert Duval

Uploaded by robertduval14

Location: My garden in North Carolina zone 7b
Date: 2024-07-27

Uploaded by steelmantis2

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2020-04-23

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by fredricp1

Uploaded by Newyorkrita

Uploaded by Flowerlover6

Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2015-06-30
Garden volunteers

Uploaded by wildflowers

Location: Columbus, Ohio USA, Zone 6b
Date: 8/27/2020

Uploaded by cwhitt

Uploaded by cwhitt

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2010-09-09

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-09-02
close up of center disk

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: The Natural State
Date: 2019-08-24

Uploaded by codielane

Location: Easton, Pa. Backyard
Date: 2022-08-27

Uploaded by StefanoPip

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by sedumzz

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Date: 08/15/18
Bright bloom

Uploaded by Mebruce5

Location: Southern Indiana
Date: 7/18/2018

Uploaded by CrazedHoosier

Uploaded by pitimpinai

Location: DISCLAIMER: This is an old photo from an old phone. I don't know why, but the photos look "deep fried". sorry about that.

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Fairfax, Virginia
Date: 2022-04-17

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: in my garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 07-07-2018
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

Uploaded by jathton

Location: in my garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 06-01-2008
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

Uploaded by jathton

Uploaded by jathton

Location: Nora's Garden - Castlegar, B.C.
Date: 2011-12-08
Adorned with Hoar Frost.

Uploaded by HemNorth

Location: Arkansas/The Natural State
Date: 2019-08-12
Finally, after losing an entire crop, we have 2 sunflowers buddin

Uploaded by codielane

Location: Bolivar, Ohio
Date: 2023-07-19

Uploaded by JimKlaiber

Location: Silver Spring, MD
Date: 2014-07-15

Uploaded by Catmint20906

Location: Bolivar, Ohio
Date: 2023-07-20

Uploaded by JimKlaiber

Uploaded by JimKlaiber

Uploaded by RootedInDirt

Location: Pennsylvania
Date: 2019-08-19
Helianthus annuus

Uploaded by AudreyDee

Location: Brownstown PA 17508
Date: 2020-08-14
I had to bend under to get a pic of this heavy seedhead w/ a few

Uploaded by nativeplantlover

Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Date: 2016-05-02

Uploaded by JamesAcclaims

Location: Fairfax, VA | July, 2022
Date: 2022-07-26

Uploaded by sedumzz

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2008-07-27
Self-set from bird food in my garden..

Uploaded by bonitin

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: nature reserve, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2010-07-23

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve, California
Date: 2008-08-14

Uploaded by Kelli

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by Flowerlover6

Location: Jersey City, NJ
Date: 2014-08-19
community garden

Uploaded by skylark

Location: In my zone 8 garden
Date: 2013-07-16

Uploaded by sarahbugw

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2018-08-17
#polination - moth

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by pixie62560

Uploaded by pixie62560

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-08-19

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by pixie62560

Uploaded by SpringGreenThumb

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2011-06-10
A gift from the birds.

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Palos Verdes CA
Date: 2020 April 1st
Sunflower Sprout.

Uploaded by ChrisCrop

Uploaded by pixie62560

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by sedumzz

Uploaded by sedumzz

Uploaded by DaisyRyder

Location: In my zone 8 garden
Date: 2012-07-23

Uploaded by sarahbugw

Location: Arkansas/The Natural State
Date: 2019-08-12

Uploaded by codielane

Location: Bolivar, Ohio
Date: 2024-07-08

Uploaded by JimKlaiber

Location: Bolivar, Ohio
Date: 2024-07-10

Uploaded by JimKlaiber

Uploaded by christinereid54

Uploaded by christinereid54

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2016-06-16
unwanted volunteer seedling

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Hortus Lapidarius
Date: 2024-08-06

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Uploaded by admin

Location: Coastal San Diego County
Date: 2017-04-13

Uploaded by carlysuko

Location: Garden
Date: 2017-10-22
Ready to feed the birds in winter

Uploaded by Yorkshirelass

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-09-27

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-09-30

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by nicodiangel_no

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-06-01
re-seeded area is thick w/ plants

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by bwv998

Uploaded by pixie62560

Uploaded by pixie62560

Uploaded by pixie62560

Uploaded by pixie62560

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Whitmore Lake, MI
Date: 2017-08-16

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-04-16
Another Sunflower (from seed scattered by birds from the bird-fee

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by DaisyRyder

Location: 9a
Date: 2018-07-14
#pollination

Uploaded by honeyx4

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-04-21
Another gift from the birds!

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by pdermer1x

Uploaded by tnbee

Location: Indiana Zone 5
Date: 2012-07-26
88 open blooms on one plant

Uploaded by gardengus

Uploaded by pitimpinai

Uploaded by pitimpinai

Location: in my garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 08-13-2017
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

Uploaded by jathton

Location: in my garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 08-16-2017
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

Uploaded by jathton

Uploaded by bwv998

Uploaded by JimKlaiber

Location: Bolivar, Ohio
Date: 2024-07-15

Uploaded by JimKlaiber

Location: Bolivar, Ohio
Date: 2024-07-18

Uploaded by JimKlaiber

Location: Coastal San Diego County
Date: 2017-03-20

Uploaded by carlysuko

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2019-08-06
Sunflower 023

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Sangamon Co. Il.
Date: 2018-05-21

Uploaded by Deby

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by nicodiangel_no

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Apple Valley, CA
Date: 2014-11-06
Evening Sun Mix Sunflower

Uploaded by dragonfetti

Location: Sangamon Co. Il.
Date: 2018-05-20

Uploaded by Deby

Uploaded by Deby

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by SpringGreenThumb

Uploaded by SpringGreenThumb

Uploaded by SpringGreenThumb

Uploaded by Catmint20906

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by paulaf

Uploaded by paulaf

Uploaded by paulaf

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by robertduval14

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Brownstown Pennsylvania
Date: 2016-07-09

Uploaded by nativeplantlover

Location: In my zone 8 garden
Date: May, 2011

Uploaded by sarahbugw

Location: Arkansas
Date: 2019-07-30
Sunflower seedling

Uploaded by codielane

Location: Gent, Belgium
Date: 2013-07-22

Uploaded by bonitin

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Oct 7, 2011 3:39 PM concerning plant:

Helianthus annuus is an annual that is native to the Americas. It grows 6 to 12 feet in height and has hairy oval or heart shaped leaves and hairy stems. This common sunflower requires full sun and is drought tolerant. I haven't grown sunflowers from seed in a long while, but there have always been a few sprouting in the yard for the past few years, compliments of the backyard birds! I don't know anyone who doesn't like the sunflower. If those big, beautiful heads of flowers don't make you smile, I don't know what will.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Newyorkrita (North Shore, Long Island, NY ) on Sep 30, 2011 11:51 AM concerning plant:

Each year I like to grow some sunflowers in my garden. They actually self seed, so I can just leave a few plants where I want them. I grow them not only because they are pretty, but also to attract the backyard songbirds. As soon as the flowers start to get ripe seedheads, goldfinches arrive to eat them. They will keep coming as long as there are seeds for them to pluck. So if you want to attract goldfinches, grow sunflowers, which are an excellent alternative to a feeder.

Located on Long Island, NY zone 6/7, where it is humid in the summer.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Wally2007 (Connecticut - Zone 6a) on Jun 9, 2020 6:53 AM concerning plant:

I am in my second year with my dozen or so sunflowers. When I plant I have sowed as many as three seeds in one hole. I usually plant a variety of sunflowers and they are really beautiful when fully developed. Given that scenario when they get to a good size I have to stake them due to the heavy winds I get in my backyard. They are about 7 or 8 inches in growth at this time and I just can't wait to see them fully grown again.
Any advice with my care in raising them would be greatly appreciated.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on May 21, 2013 1:53 AM concerning plant:

"The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an annual plant native to the Americas. It possesses a large inflorescence (flowering head), and its name is derived from the flower's shape and image, which is often used to depict the sun. The plant has a rough, hairy stem, broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves and circular heads of flowers. The heads consist of many individual flowers which mature into seeds, often in the hundreds, on a receptacle base. From the Americas, sunflower seeds were brought to Europe in the 16th century, where, along with sunflower oil, they became a widespread cooking ingredient. Leaves of the sunflower can be used as cattle feed, while the stems contain a fibre which may be used in paper production.

To grow best, sunflowers need full sun. They grow best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil with heavy mulch. In commercial planting, seeds are planted 1.5 feet apart and 1 inch deep. Sunflower "whole seed" (fruit) are sold as a snack food, raw or after roasting in ovens, with or without salt and/or seasonings added. Sunflowers can be processed into a peanut butter alternative, sunflower butter. In Germany, it is mixed with rye flour to make Sonnenblumenkernbrot (literally: sunflower whole seed bread), which is quite popular in German-speaking Europe. It is also sold as food for birds and can be used directly in cooking and salads. American Indians had multiple uses for sunflowers in the past, such as in bread, medical ointments, dyes and body paints.

The sunflower is the state flower of the US state of Kansas."

Taken from wikipedia's page at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Reply to this comment
Posted by KFredenburg (Black Hills, SD - Zone 5a) on Jun 23, 2020 12:13 PM concerning plant:

This plant's flower is the state flower of Kansas.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 3, 2014 2:19 PM concerning plant:

Helianthus annuus is a larval host plant for the Spring Azure, Silvery Checkerspot, and Painted Lady Butterflies.

According to the NPIN, this plant has special value to native bees while its seed heads attract a wide variety of birds.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Mindy03 (Delta KY) on May 9, 2012 6:19 PM concerning plant:

Honey bees get golden pollen from this plant. Also a reliable source of hnoeydew.

Reply to this comment

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paleohunter	On April 24, 2021	Seeds sown
paleohunter	On April 24, 2021	Obtained plant https://www.seedsource.com/cat...
MySecretIslandGarden	On February 23, 2023	Bloomed Seeds from the bird feeder are growing and blooming wherever they landed. It's fun to watch how the birds have become my assistant gardeners.
MySecretIslandGarden	On July 28, 2022	Bloomed The volunteer sunflowers have started to bloom. The seeds were spread from the birds from the feeders.
Retro67	On March 17, 2024	Seeds sown Included in "Spring garden/pollinator mix. Seeded on south faces on bare soil

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