Plant of the Month

Sunflower

Botanical name: Helianthus Annus

Common name: Sunflower

Who doesn't love a Sunflower? The go-to plant for children to grow every year!

Cheerful, colourful and awe inspiring every time.

Looks

H. annuus is a tall, fast-growing annual with broad, oval to heart-shaped, roughly hairy leaves 10-40cm long. In summer it bears huge flowers up to 30cm across with bright yellow petals and dark brownish or purplish centres. The flowers attract bees and the seeds that follow provide food for finches are great for providing winter interest in any garden.

Likes

Sunflowers grow in a moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun. Will flower best in a long, hot summer. May need support.

Dislikes

They hate drying out and need constant watering, especially in hot weather. They also need support and prefer a sheltered spot away from winds.

Did you know?

Each sunflower is actually thousands of teeny flowers.
Each sunflower can contain as many as 1,000 to 2,000 seeds. ...
Sunflowers are native to North America. ...
There are about 70 species of sunflowers. ...
The tallest sunflower on record was over 30 feet tall. ...
Sunflowers track the sun.