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Annual Sunflower Helianthus annuus |
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Annual Sunflower is a non-native annual plant of the UK, typically found growing in field margins and waste ground, to a mature height of up to 300cm. Annual Sunflower was introduced as a domesticated crop into Europe and brought to the UK in the sixteenth century. It exists in the wild as an 'escape' of agricultural or domestic cultivation. Annual Sunflower is thought to be named after the sun-like appearance of its large golden composite flowers. They have a central area of tightly-packed disc florets, surrounded by the ruffled petals of its ray florets. the sun-seeking habit of its flowerheads. The name Sunflower may also be associated with the plant's sun-seeking habit while it is developing, moving its flowerheads daily from east to west to track the sun as it moves through the sky (although mature heads stay oriented towards the east). Botanic classification and naming: Annual Sunflower is a member of the Daisy (Asteraceae) family. The genus name 'Helianthus' identifies the plant as a Sunflower and its species name 'annuus' means 'annual plant'.
Benefits: Sunflower provides nectar for bees and other pollinating insects and seed for birds, such as the Greenfinch and Goldfinch.
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