Bright Yellow and Red Sunflowers

Sunflower (lat. Helianthus) belongs to the Asteraceae family of plants (lat. Asteraceae). The original homeland of sunflowers is North America, from where they spread throughout Europe in the 16th century, thanks to the Spanish voyages of discovery. In the 18th century, sunflowers began to be used in the food industry - oil started to be pressed from their seeds and ripe seeds became a sought-after delicacy. Sunflowers also became the subject of breeding. Nowadays, you can find many hybrids differing in flower colour, height or pollen amount. The range of flower colours is truly wide - from cream, through yellow, orange, dark red to brown. Flowers can be single or double. Most sunflowers contain large amounts of pollen, but this does not apply to specially bred hybrids that have been stripped of pollen. The height of plants is also very diverse, there are varieties growing to just under a meter and varieties almost 4.5 meters tall. In the Czech Republic, you can encounter five botanical species of sunflower, with countless hybrids being grown. The most commonly grown representative is the common sunflower (lat. Helianthus annuus).

Common Sunflower (lat. Helianthus annuus)

Common sunflower (lat. Helianthus annuus) is an annual plant from the Asteraceae family. The Latin name of this sunflower species is composed of the Greek words "helois" meaning sun, "anthos" meaning flower and "annus" meaning year. The common sunflower has a strong, hairy stem with large stalked leaves. The lower leaves are alternate, oval or heart-shaped, the upper leaves are narrower, alternately arranged. Common sunflower stems can be up to 3 meters tall in good conditions. The sunflower does not bloom with just one flower, as it might seem, the flower is actually composed of multiple flowers clustered together. One inflorescence contains two types of flowers - distinctive ray flowers bordering the outer parts of the head. These flowers are most often yellow in colour, they can also be orange or brown. However, they are only sterile and their main function is to attract pollinators. The second type, tubular flowers, are located in the inner part of the head. After pollination, the tubular flowers develop into fruits referred to as sunflower seeds. In reality, these are not seeds, because they are hidden in a hard inedible shell. You have surely noticed the interesting arrangement of tubular flowers, where each floret is oriented to the adjacent one at approximately the same angle (golden angle, approx. 137°). The flowers create an interesting pattern formed by left-handed and right-handed spirals. One inflorescence usually has approximately 34 spirals in one direction and 55 in the other direction. Individual flower heads reach a diameter of 10 to approximately 40 cm.

Available Varieties

Annual sunflower (lat. Helianthus annuus) can be planted in the traditional yellow color, but darker variants also stand out beautifully in flower beds. A novelty that allergy sufferers will especially appreciate is the Pro Cut Bicolor annual sunflower hybrid, whose flowers contain no pollen. This hybrid is also very attractive, with distinctively colored flowers (yellow-brown). The plant grows to a height of approximately 2 m. This hybrid finds its place both in flower beds and in vases. A variety grown for seeds is the sunflower designated as "Snack". Its seeds are large and crunchy, with excellent taste. They are consumed fresh or lightly roasted. This sunflower also grows to a height of around 2 m. The King Kong variety of annual sunflower will certainly dominate your flower bed. The growth vigor of this plant is impressive - it creates enormous leaves and flowers on powerful stems. Under good conditions, this sunflower grows up to 4.5 meters tall. Nobody will miss such a tall sunflower in your garden.

Growing Sunflowers

Growing sunflowers is not particularly demanding, but you must follow at least basic principles for successful growth. Always plant sunflowers in a sunny location facing south or southwest. The richer the soil in nutrients you provide for the sunflower, the better it will grow and the larger the flowers will be. Sunflowers need adequate watering during growth for successful development, but they cannot tolerate constant waterlogging in heavy soils and high groundwater levels. You can support sunflower growth by using standard liquid fertilizer. Sunflowers bloom from July to October (depending on weather development). The flowering period can be extended by removing faded flowers just as seeds begin to mature. Energy will then be drawn not by fruits, but by additional buds.

Tip: if you want to protect sunflower seeds from birds, cover the flower head with an old curtain as soon as possible after flowering, or stretch an old nylon stocking over it.

Sunflowers from Seeds

Sow sunflower seeds directly in the flower bed from late April to early May. If you have space, you can pre-grow seedlings and plant mature plants in the flower bed. Plant seeds at a depth of approximately 2 - 2.5 cm. Sow seeds in rows or clusters. Remember the plant size, so don't plant them too close together. Smaller varieties should be at least 20 cm apart, while tall varieties should have spacing of at least 40 - 50 cm. After sowing, cover the seeds with soil and water well. Check that they haven't floated to the surface, where birds would eat them. Don't forget to provide support for mature sunflowers, because their root system is relatively shallow and stronger winds could easily uproot the sunflowers.

Uses of Sunflower

Who wouldn't know the main product for which sunflowers are commercially grown - sunflower oil. Especially cold-pressed oil is an important part of the diet. You can also enjoy sunflower seeds, which are added to baked goods and salads, you can lightly roast them or consume them fresh. They are excellent when coated in yogurt. Beekeepers will appreciate the presence of sunflowers near hives, as sunflower blooms will certainly become a significant source of honeydew and nectar for honey production. Farmers use sunflower stalks as fodder for feeding livestock. However, it's not just livestock that feeds on sunflowers - sunflower seeds, as a staple food for their pets, are well known to many bird and small rodent breeders. Sunflower oil is added to cream preparations to provide protective and moisturizing effects. Sunflower oil has also found its use in painting, today it is an important ingredient in tempera paints.

Sunflowers Turn Towards the Sun

Sunflowers are known to turn towards the sun. This phenomenon is called heliotropism. In reality, only the buds of unopened flower heads turn towards the sun. At sunrise, all sunflowers in this life stage turn eastward and then gradually rotate following the sun throughout the day. At night, the sunflowers turn back. The entire ritual repeats until the flower heads begin to open and the stem stiffens. The movement of the flower is caused by motor cells located in the stem beneath the flower. After the stem stiffens, most sunflowers remain facing east. It's not only the flowers that turn towards the sun; this phenomenon can also be observed in the leaves.

Sunflower Sprouts

You don't have to wait for your own sunflower seeds to grow; in our e-shop you can purchase seeds suitable for sprouting. Sprouted sunflower seeds are exceptionally healthy, have a high protein content, and taste like nuts. You can sprout the seeds on a windowsill; they are suitable for consumption after approximately 3-7 days. The ideal temperature for sprouting is around 21°C. First, rinse the seeds thoroughly and then spread them evenly in a sprouting tray. Don't forget to moisten them 2-3 times a day.