Sensational Sunflowers: Fun Facts You May Not Know!
Have you ever looked at a field of sunflowers and just smiled? Something about their bright, cheerful colors just makes you happy. In fact, the sunflower is a symbol of positivity. There is so much more to these blooms than just their prettiness, though. Here are some fun facts about sunflowers you may not know.
The scientific name for sunflower is Helianthus. This comes from the Greek word helios (sun) and anthos (flower). They are native to America and there are at least 70 known species. It is said that Native Americans cultivated sunflowers, possibly even before they grew corn. The artist Vincent Van Gogh was so enamored with them he devoted an entire series of paintings to them.
Sunflowers can grow up to 12 feet tall, but require full sun and well-drained soil to reach their optimal height. In 2014, a sunflower in Germany broke the world record at a whopping 30 feet, one inch! They are the state flower of Kansas and the national flower of Ukraine. The center of the sunflower attracts bees, but they are actually self-pollinating.
Sunflowers have a very unique feature called heliotropism which starts as they begin to bud. Almost magically, the sunflowers face the sun at all times, from early in the morning when the sun rises in the east until sunset when it sets in the west. The French call sunflowers tournesols, meaning “turned sun”, to describe this behavior.
Some people, like me, love sunflowers, but for some people they are scary. I was once acquainted with a well-known photographer who was frightened by sunflowers. The scientific name for the fear of sunflowers is helianthophobia.
Sunflowers are also a perfect example of the Fibonacci sequence. This process involves a special number called the divine proportion, or golden ratio, for its widespread presence in nature. It’s amazing to think of all the symmetry and order that occurs in our world as the result of this! To understand the Fibonacci sequence, check out the video, “Nature by Numbers”, by Cristobal Vila.
Thank you for visiting my blog. You may also enjoy Flowers & Other Stories: Spring Gardens I Love and What the Color of Your Flowers Says About You. Wishing you peace, love, happiness and beautiful vistas!
