Flower facts – All about sunflowers

Of all the blooms you will find at your florist, sunflowers are by far one of the most impressive. Their bright colour, sheer size and tall stems make them an amazing choice for large flower arrangements. Other than for bouquets, these blooms have so many other uses. Here are some fun flower facts about sunflowers.

Name and behaviour

Helianthus is the scientific name for the sunflower and this name comes from combining the words Helios and Anthos. Helios means sun while anthos means flower. It could be due to its bright appearance or due to one of the most well-known flower facts – these blooms turn along with the sun. As the stem grows and the flower turns, the stem becomes beautifully twisted.

Sunflower seeds

One of the lesser-known flower facts is that there are over sixty different types of this bloom. They can be found all around the world and they have many uses. The seeds are used for making cooking oil and they are also delicious snacks. They are also used in different types of animal feed such as birdseed and food for hamsters and similar animals.

Amazing height

One of the most impressive flower facts is the fact that sunflowers can grow from 3 to 18 feet in height. This is why they are so perfect in tall flower arrangements. The tallest sunflower ever grown was cultivated back in 1986 and it reached a height of 25 feet and 5 and a half inches! The diameter of the largest sunflower was 32 and a half inches.

Cultivated varieties

As mentioned above, these flowers are cultivated for their seeds. In this case, the flower will be larger and the plant will only produce a single bloom on each stem. Those that grow naturally are smaller but they produce several flowers on a single stem.

These are some of the most interesting flower facts about sunflowers. However, it’s also interesting to note that they are also popular gifts for birthdays, congratulations and for those celebrating their third wedding anniversary. Remember, when you receive these blooms, you need to place them in a tall vase with plenty of water in order to keep them fresh and beautiful for as long as possible.