Helianthus annuus

Helianthus annuus (girasole comune) — un'annuale alta e eliotropica originaria del Nord America, addomesticata dai popoli indigeni per i suoi semi e il suo olio. La casa botanica della nostra gamma di girasoli.

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Helianthus annuus — the common sunflower

Helianthus annuus, the common sunflower, is a tall, fast-growing annual in the daisy family (Asteraceae) and one of the most recognisable flowers in the world. Cheerful, generous and easy from seed, it is the species behind our entire sunflower range within the flower seed collection.

History & origin

The sunflower is native to North America, where Indigenous peoples domesticated it thousands of years ago — using it for edible seeds, oil, flour, dye and medicine long before it reached the wider world. Spanish explorers carried it back across the Atlantic in the 16th century, first as a curiosity in botanical gardens and then, in Eastern Europe and Russia, as a major agricultural oilseed. It was largely Russian breeders who developed the big oil-rich types grown around the world today.

Its botanical name joins the Greek helios (sun) and anthos (flower), a nod to the way young plants track the sun across the sky — a habit known as heliotropism. Mature heads usually settle facing east, warming early in the morning to draw in pollinators.

Botanical characteristics

From knee-high dwarf types to giants over three metres tall, Helianthus annuus carries the classic bloom — which is in fact a composite head of hundreds of tiny florets ringed by bright ray petals. The spiral of seeds at its centre follows a striking mathematical pattern that packs them with remarkable efficiency. Beyond the familiar yellow, modern varieties span cream, lemon, bronze, rust-red and deep chocolate, in single-stem and multi-headed branching forms. Their pollen- and nectar-rich faces make sunflowers a favourite among our pollinator flowers and bee-friendly flowers, while the branching types are prized in our cut-flower range.

Growing Helianthus annuus from seed

Sunflowers are among the easiest and most rewarding flowers to grow from seed, which makes them a brilliant first sow for children. Sow after the last frost directly into warm soil, or start them in pots indoors and harden off before planting out. Give them full sun and shelter from strong wind, and stake the tall varieties early in exposed gardens. Leave the spent heads standing in autumn and the ripe seeds will feed finches and other birds well into winter. The flower growing guide and flower sowing calendar cover the details.

Ready to grow sunflowers? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Sunflower · Pollinator Flowers · Bee-Friendly Flowers · Cut Flowers · All Flower Seeds

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

Domande frequenti

Cos'è Helianthus annuus?
È il nome botanico del comune girasole, una pianta annuale alta appartenente alla famiglia delle Asteracee.

Da dove vengono i girasoli?
Dal Nord America, dove i popoli indigeni li hanno domesticati migliaia di anni fa per i semi e l'olio.

Cosa significa il nome?
Unisce il greco helios (sole) e anthos (fiore), a riflettere il comportamento dei giovani germogli che seguono il sole.

I girasoli seguono davvero il sole?
I boccioli giovani inseguono il sole nel corso della giornata (eliotropismo); le infiorescenze mature si orientano di solito verso est.

Come si coltivano i girasoli da seme?
Semina dopo l'ultima gelata in terreno caldo e soleggiato, e tutora le varietà più alte.