Helianthus annuus, Common Sunflower

Jade Wheeler

09/12/2020

Helianthus annuus 

Helianthus annuus, also known as the common sunflower, is a very well-known annual that  has a beautiful flower. Sunflowers are coarse, hairy, leafy, fast-growing annual plants that typically grow to a height of 3 to 3.5 feet high and have stiff upright stalks (ediblewildfood). Behind the sunflower however is many symbolic and spiritual meanings. The flower is in the Asteraceae family. The Latin name comes from combining the two Latin words helios, which means sun, and anthos, which means flower in Greek (Sunflower Joy). There is a Greek story behind the sunflower. The story starts out with the sun god, Apollo, and a water nymph, Clytie. Clytie was in love with Apollo, but Apollo didn’t feel the same way towards her. Apollo one day noticedClytie and fell in love with her. It didn’t last long though. Soon after, Apollo and Leucothoe became lovers. Consumed by jealousy and anger, Clytie told Leucothoe’s father about her daughter’s relationship with Apollo. Leucothoe’s father didn’t seem to be happy with the fact and eventually punished Leucothoe to her death. Knowing what Clytie had done to his lover, Apollo angrily turned her into a sunflower. Clytie’s adoration and love towards Apollo didn’t change. In her flower form, Clytie didn’t budge and always gazed up at Apollo while he was moving the sun in his chariot (Aura). The sunflower heads can measure up to 13 cm across and they have yellow, pleated rays and a red-brown central disk. The flower heads are daisy-like, and they consist of numerous central disk florets that are yellow to brown; they are surrounded by approximately 20-40 ray florets. Flowers bloom between July and September (ediblewildfood). These seeds can be used for many ways. You can cook the seeds and add spices to eat them, you can smash them down to create an oil. There are many different symbolic meanings from the flower as well, such as, faith, loyalty, optimism, happiness, good fortune and luck, and longevity (Sunflower joy).  It thrives in most soils and is somewhat drought resistant. They grow in full sunlight for best results. In a landscape they can be used for design purposes such as color and design, line symmetry, and as an edible garden since many parts of the plant that are edible. The seeds were discussed earlier but the leaves petals and roots can be used as well. Many people use the petals and leaves in teas.  Young flower buds can be steamed and served like globe artichokes. The leaf petioles can be boiled and mixed in with other vegetables. Flower petals, leaves, and roots can be used to make tea (ediblewildfood).  The sunflower is a beautiful flower that can be used in so many different ways no wonder it is such a popular flower in the United States. I’m sure with all the things that are being found out about sunflowers now, there will be more neat things about it in the future.

Aura, S. (2020, August 04). Sunflower Meanings, Symbolism, Origin Myth and Cultural Significance. Retrieved September 14, 2020, from https://www.morflora.com/sunflower-meanings/

SunflowerHelianthus annuus. (n.d.). Retrieved September 14, 2020, from https://www.ediblewildfood.com/sunflower.aspx

What is the Meaning of a Sunflower: Symbolism, Spiritual and Myths. (n.d.). Retrieved September 14, 2020, from https://www.sunflowerjoy.com/2016/04/meaning-sunflower-symbolism-spiritual.html