Sunflowers

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The common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a very large, herbaceous, native plant, grown commercially and in gardens around the United States.

It is a member of the family Asteraceae, commonly called the sunflower family, one of the two largest families of flowering plants in the world.

Most people recognize it as the large plant that moves its flower to face the sun throughout the day.

North Dakota and South Dakota lead the nation in commercial growing, producing seeds for oils and foods.

Gardeners think of sunflowers as bird magnets. Cardinals, sparrows, finch and other seed eating birds always favor seeds from mature summer plants.

They are annuals, fairly easy to grow. Plant seeds after the last frost, in an area that gets good sun.

Kansan, the Sunflower state, adopted the Sunflower as its official state flower in 1903.

© 2003 Patricia A. Michaels