The sunflower - that weed growing by the roadside and the beautiful cut flower - is native to the Americas and the only seed crop that was domesticated in North America.  There are over 60 species of sunflowers but the best known is Helianthus annuus - the common sunflower.  The name is derived from the Greek word for sun - "helios" and the word for flower - "anthos".

Native Americans ate the seeds, ground them into a meal and extracted the oil.  The flower itself provided a yellow dye from the ray flowers and the Hopis made a purple dye from the seeds. They used the sunflower medicinally to cure rattlesnake bites, relieve chest pains and the juice from the stem was used as a wound dressing.

Our sunflower traveled to Europe in the 1500's with Spanish explorers returning home and by the early 1700's Peter the Great of Russia had obtained sunflower seeds in Holland.  By 1855 there were commercial sunflower farms in Russia, the Ukraine and parts of Siberia.  The Russians developed the variety "Mammoth Russian", which was being offered by seed companies in the U.S. in the 1880's.  Russian plant breeders were able to increase the oil content of the sunflower from 28% to 50%.

Sunflowers have individual petals (ray flowers) around a central head with 1000 - 2000 individual flowers.  The seed catalogs and garden centers have a huge array of different varieties of sunflowers.  Short, tall, yellow, chestnut, red and shades in between, singles, doubles, single stem and multi - branching and flowers with black or white or striped seeds. And that doesn't even count the varieties grown commercially for oil and snacks.  Whew!  This is the state flower of Kansas, the national flower of Russia and considered a weed in Iowa.

The oil is the most valuable part of the sunflower - second only to soybean oil.  About 3 million acres of sunflowers are grown in the U.S.  85% of those are oilseed varieties.  The rest are called confectionary seeds and are used for snack food, granola bars and multi-grain bread.  The seeds are being used to make a spread similar to peanut butter for those 3 million Americans allergic to peanuts.   Sunflowers are also used for bird seed, livestock feed, silage and the hulls have been used for poultry litter, fireplace logs and to manufacture ethyl alcohol.  The only part left is the stem and that has been used as a fuel, in fabric and made into acoustical tile.

But who would have thought they would float sunflowers on rafts on a pond at Chernobyl to clean up the accident site through a method called phytoremediation?  The plants absorb pollutants from the water, soil and air. Here at home at Colorado State University, researchers are trying to develop sunflowers into a rubber producing crop.

In 1910 Mr. & Mrs. Cockerell of Boulder, Colorado discovered a wild red sunflower.  They crossed plants until they obtained a true-breeding red sunflower and sold the seeds to an English seed company to sell around the world.  In the late 1980's the Sakata Seed Co. of Japan began introducing pollenless sunflowers and the explosion of new varieties for cut flowers began.

They are a great plant for the home garden whether you are growing them for looks or for the seeds.  The latest varieties are short flowers that can be grown in containers on the patio.  Easy to grow, sunflowers have a relatively short growing season and can tolerate our alkaline soils.  They will grow in any soil and with a minimum of water but will thrive with regular watering and some compost to loosen the soil.  Sunflowers are a valuable crop but also wonderful to look at and just make you smile!

Q: I would like to buy a wisteria vine.  I have also seen it grown as a tree. Is this a different plant?

A: Wisteria is normally grown as a vine on a trellis but can also be grown in the form of a tree.  Either way, it will definitely need to be supported.  If it is being grown as a tree, remember to watch the 'stress' points such as the crotch of the tree.  The crotch is the area that splits into different branches. This crotch area should be wrapped and supported so it doesn't split. You could see winter dieback for a few years until it gets established. Don't be surprised if it takes up to 7 years for you to see blooms.

Q: I want to grow a type of vine to add privacy to an area. What do you suggest that is easy to grow and colorful?

A: There are many types of vines that can provide privacy. One that is easy to grow and has delightfully fragrant flowers that attract hummingbirds is the honeysuckle. It is a vigorous grower that will do best in full sun to part shade.

Q: When is the best time to plant a trumpet vine?

A: As with most plants, the best time to plant is in the spring or fall. This mostly has to do with the cool weather and additional moisture. Dig a hole approximately 2 to 3 times the size of the pot, amend the soil before planting, try not to over water and apply about three inches of an organic mulch to conserve water and moderate soil temperatures.

Boxelder bugs can be controlled outdoors with a water/laundry detergent mix sprayed directly onto them. Inside the home, a vacuum is safe and effective. Seal doors and windows in early fall to prevent them from entering the home to overwinter.

To maintain the fresh quality and taste of garden herbs such as basil, chives or mint. Wash the leaves and pack them into ice cube trays. Fill with water and freeze. Store the cubes in sealed bags or glass jars in your freezer.

Woodpiles can harbor hundreds of kinds of insects. With few exceptions, these insects will rarely infest home furnishings. When your delivery comes this fall, stack it away from the sides of your home; keep it outside until you use it.

The authors have received training through Colorado State University Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener program and is a Master Gardener volunteer for Larimer County.

Gardening and Insect Fact Sheets are available on-line by clicking HERE.

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This page updated:  August 26, 2003