Flower of the Week: Sunflower

When it comes to the “little suns” that bloom in summer, one has to mention sunflowers, a vibrant plant of the Compositae family. Sunflower’s large, rounded capitulum grows high at the apex of the stalk, impressing viewers with an intense visual impact.

Tall sunflowers make a great garden backdrop, and you can also plant them in the innermost part of the flowerbed. While its golden-yellow image has taken firm hold in people’s minds, you can also choose to plant wine red, reddish-brown, or chocolate-brown varieties depending on your preference.

Its seeds can be eaten or pressed for oil, making it greatly valuable in the kitchen. If you want to harvest sunflower seeds, remember to put up bird-proof nets before the seeds mature.

An Inspiration for Arts and Avant-Garde Fashion

Speaking of sunflower-related artwork, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers series is certain to come to mind. Van Gogh painted many sunflowers during his lifetime, 11 paintings of which survive today. The two most famous paintings are Vase with Twelve Sunflowers and Still Life: Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers.

Nowadays, you can see these paintings at places like the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, and the National Gallery, London.

Vincent van Gogh (1888) Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers

After Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin painted Sunflowers in Tahiti in 1901. It is considered to be his tribute to his friendship with Van Gogh. In 1888, the two artists spent a meaningful period of time working and living together in Arles, France.

Paul Gauguin (1901) Sunflowers

In the late 19th century, sunflowers and lilies became hallmarks of the Aestheticist Movement popular in the British literature and art circles. Oscar Wilde, the iconic figure of the Aestheticism Movement, always had these two flowers at hand when he visited Paris or traveled to America. His home was also always decorated with sunflowers and lilies accompanied by equally ornate and iconic peacock feathers, celadon china, and various objet d’art.

Opponents of Aestheticism went so far as to use sunflowers to mock the movement. The flower has been repeatedly featured in various satirical works.

George Frederick Keller (1882) The Modern Messiah

Directional Indicator

The sunflower is also a popular plant in the famous game Minecraft. The game designers set a rule that sunflowers are always facing east, making it one of the tools players use to identify directions.

In reality, sunflowers’ discs only follow the sun’s movement across the sky in the early stages of their growth. After they mature, they remain facing east to catch the first rays of the morning sun.

Eco-friendly Sunflower

Compared to the average plant, sunflowers’ root systems can absorb more harmful substances such as lead and arsenic, as well as radioactive elements such as uranium and cesium. As a result, it is often planted for cleansing contaminated soil and water.

After the Chernobyl disaster, sunflowers were planted on rafts to slowly absorb cesium and strontium from local ponds. After the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the government also distributed sunflower seeds to local residents. Sunflowers not only served as a defense against radiation but also brought psychological solace.

How do I Grow Sunflower Well?

Sunflower is quite easy to care for. Simply provide it with its preferred soil, light, and moisture conditions, and you can count on the blooming of glorious beauty in the summer.

Sunflower is a tough annual plant, so it can grow in most areas. It is suitable for growing in fertile, moist, well-drained, weakly alkaline soil. It does not require much moisture and can reasonably tolerate drought. Simply wait until the soil is dry to water it.

It prefers ample sunlight and needs at least 6 hours of light per day. It can be planted in a bright and sheltered location to prevent high winds from breaking its stems.

Size: 60-300 cm (2-10 in) tall

Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 2-11

Light: Full Sun

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained, weakly alkaline

Bloom Time: Summer