Sunflowers

SUN FLOWERS (Helianthus annuus)Signify pure thoughts, adoration and dedication or dedicated love.

Sunflowers are native to the mid-west and western part of the USA.

The name derives from the Greek words Helios, meaning sun and anthos, meaning flower. Over 70 varieties of sunflowers exist, and they are a member of the huge Asteraceae/Compositae family. 

A Sunflower resembles a giant daisy and is an incredibly popular cut flower that is available year round from Ecuador and Colombia. The most widely used Sunflowers include natural yellow with brown center, natural yellow with green center, tinted, Mini, and Teddy Bear Sunflowers.

The large petals that ring the center are called ray flowers. These are used to lure pollinating insects to the many tiny disk florets in the centre of the flower head. The flower heads look like a single flower, but they are really many individual flowers. The central brown button is a dense mass of individual disc flowers, and the petals are actually flattened ray flowers.

Flower Relatives:

• Chrysanthemums
• Gerberas
• Dahlias
• Zinnias
• Asters
• Marigolds