Summer is just around the corner, but some of our native sunflowers are already in bloom! Numerous insects, […] And Sunflower medicines are used in many tribes. Kansas State Flower. Their leaves are sticky, dark green, and alternately arranged on the stalk. Missouri birdseed manufacturers consumed an estimated 10,000 tons of sunflower in 1991, most of it from out of state. About Wild Sunflowers. The oil is used for skin ailments. Today, sunflowers remain a highly recognized flower, admired for its sunny … Other vitamins … All but 3 occur in North America. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. Kansas is the "Sunflower State." The sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine and the state flower of Kansas. You’re probably most familiar with the giant types that grow very tall and have oversized yellow flowers. Sunflowers are some of the best types of flowers you should have in your garden.With more than 70 different varieties, these annual plants come in tons of different sizes and colors. The earliest human use of sunflowers is believed to have been four thousand or more years ago. The Tallest Sunflower is Over 30 Feet confirmed by Guinness World Records on August 28, 2014. Kansas is special, however, because the flower can be found in every county. Fact #3. Plains sunflower is a native prairie plant, and it’s role is to fill the space left when other plants are weakened (similar to ragweeds and other opportunistic species). Sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine and is the state flower of Kansas. Sunflowers are iconic, all-American plants grown by gardeners in every state. First and foremost, Kansas is the sunflower state because our weather is perfectly suited for them. long. According to the 2013 Colorado Agriculture Statistics publication, the state produced a total of 124.2 million pounds of sunflowers in 2011, but only 55.2 million pounds in 2012. Native to North America. Trucking oilseed sunflower to an out-of-state processor usually is too costly for an individual producer. Some kinds of sunflowers are grown for food, seeds and oil. Sunflower Habitat. Wild sunflowers are often photographed with their tall stalks and bright petals stretched towards the sun. Argentina and Russia grow the most sunflowers. Sunflowers thrive in all 50 states in the U.S., most blooming during the summer months. A typical sunflower will grow between 8-12 feet in just 6 months. Food Source Raw sunflower kernels are nutritious for humans. With the increasing interest in ornamental sunflowers and several million acres of land devoted to oilseed production, it's hard to imagine sunflowers as an unpopular plant. One of the easiest flowers to grow, Helianthus thrive in full sun and aren’t picky about soil. in Library Science. There are about 70 species of sunflowers. Native Americans were using native sunflowers for food over 3,000 years ago. Sunflowers can be found in every state; they are a popular flower and adapt readily to a range of weather conditions. are plants native to the American continents, and one of four seed-bearing species known to have been domesticated in eastern North America.The others are squash [Cucurbita pepo var oviferia], marshelder [Iva annua], and chenopod [Chenopodium berlandieri]).Prehistorically, people used sunflower seeds for ornamental and ceremonial use, as well … There are various factors to consider for a sunflower to thrive, including temperature, sunlight, soil and water. Giant Sunflower is most similar to Sawtooth Sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus), which has a hairless stem that often has a white bloom, whereas Giant Sunflower has a hairy stem and hairier leaves. Like potatoes, tomatoes, and corn, the sunflower plant is native to North America. Native annual sunflowers reproduce by seeds only and grow to variable heights from 1-14 feet, depending on soil moisture. Fact #5. They’ve been an important staple food for people and livestock for thousands of years. The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an annual native to the Southeastern U.S. Their native range also extends through Canada, Northern Mexico and Central America. The Sunflower is native to North America, but it has spread across the world through export. The name sunflower comes from the Greek helios "sun" and anthos "flower." Sunflowers and The Incas. As a Florida native, swamp sunflower tolerates our state’s heat and humidity with ease. Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) Sunflowers are native to North America and are one of the easiest flowers to grow. Helianthus (/ ˌ h iː l i ˈ æ n θ ə s /) is a genus comprising about 70 species of annual and perennial flowering plants in the daisy family Asteraceae. These wild sunflower seeds were only about 5 mm. A University of Missouri journal recognizes North Dakota as the leading U.S. state for sunflower production. Native Americans have used the sunflower plants for centuries. If sunflower wasn’t filling that space, another “weedy” species would, and the alternative could be much worse. Kansas State Flower & Floral Emblem Helianthus or Wild Native Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Adopted in 1903. Sunflower Facts. These sunflowers are very low maintenance. In September the fields and roadsides of the Great Plains erupt in a blaze of yellow as the sunflowers and goldenrods (also members of the sunflower family) make their presence known to the local pollinating insects. In fall 2015 Colorado dropped from the fourth-largest producer of sunflowers in the United States to the seventh. One of the unique aspects about sunflowers is that their heads follow the movement of the sun. Sunflower Helianthus annuus . Sunflowers as a genus are native to North and South America, later being introduced to Canada and various other countries throughout the world. Some of the wild … There are around 60 species of sunflower in North and South America. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years). in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. Many of the native tribes used the sunflower as their solar deity symbol. A sunflower head can produce up to 1,000 seeds. Sunflowers are native to the Americas, which means they were first found in the Americas and the seeds were then carried to and planted in other parts of the world The sunflower originated in America's prairie states and is the state flower of Kansas, where the golden blossoms grow abundantly in fields and along roads. True to their name, sunflowers need a healthy amount of sunshine each day — who would’ve guessed, right? Sunflowers and Native Americans. The sunflower is one of only four major crops of global importance native to the United States (blueberry, cranberry, and pecan are the other three). The sunflower is also featured on the Kansas quarter, state flag, and even the nickname for Kansas is "The Sunflower State." The sunflower plant is native to North America and is now harvested around the world. Although wild sunflowers are native to North America, evidence suggests that the American Indians cultivated the crop for use as food: ground into flour and mixed with other vegetables and eaten as a snack. The use of sunflower images as religious symbols has also been documented in some native societies. Fact #4. The edible seeds are an important source of oil. It’s sunflower time in the Sunflower State. Sunflowers are an amazingly versatile crop with a fascinating history. This interesting behavior, known as phototropism, inspired a motif that has appeared in many ancient works. Native American Sunflower Folklore The Minnesota-based pastor, Gilbert Wilson, studied and documented numerous aspects of the Hidasta Tribe lifestyle at the turn of the 20th century in … But there are many other types of sunflowers to explore. The flower received its name because the blooms and leaves follow the path of the sun each day, facing east in the morning and west in the evening. Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map. To the Native American, sunflowers represent bountifulness, harvest, abundance, and health. Below we will feature some Klamath-Siskiyou native plants belonging to the sunflower family. Sunflower, genus of nearly 70 species of herbaceous plants of the aster family. History: Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the few crop species that originated in North America (most originated in the fertile crescent, Asia or South or Central America).It was probably a "camp follower" of several of the western native American tribes who domesticated the crop (possibly 1000 BC) and then carried it eastward and southward of North America. Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. The Sunflower can range in height from six inches to over 12 feet tall, depending on the variety. The quintessential summer flower, sunflowers (Helianthus) are a truly native American plant and are honored as the state flower in both Kansas and Nebraska. They are native to the United States and they rank as one of the four major crops of global importance. Sunflowers are native primarily to North and South America, and some species are cultivated as ornamentals for their spectacular size and flower heads. Swamp sunflower can also be shared through saved seed, and germinated in a light, soilless mix. Fortunately, a substantial in-state sunflower market exists for birdseed mixes. Sunflowers Are Native to the United States. I. Sunflower, genus Helianthus, has about 70 species. The plant is native to North America and grows well in many locations throughout the continent. Native Americans planted wild varieties as a source of food, but modern breeding has emphasized petal size and count over seed production in many varieties. The kernels contain 55 percent protein. Sunflower got its name because the flowers turn toward the sun. Shapes range from broad and ovate or almost triangular with rough hairs or bristles and toothed margins. They have been used as a crop in the Midwest dating back a thousand years ago to the time of the Cahokia mound builders in the St. Louis area. They also used the stalks as a building material and as a purple dye for textiles. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. Pigments from different parts of the plant are used for dyeing cloth. Many plants in the Asteracea (Sunflower family) are commonly referred to as sunflowers, especially those with showy, round, yellow flower heads that look like the sun. Sunflowers are one of the fastest growing flowers. 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