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Helianthus annuus
  • Sunflower

an annual member of the Helianthus genus in the family Compositae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Green manure
    Green manure
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 7
    Zone 7
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Helianthus annuus has 0 edible uses listed
Helianthus annuus has 0 material uses listed
Helianthus annuus has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The growing plant can accumulate nitrates, especially when fed on artificial fertilizers[1]. The pollen or plant extracts may cause allergic reactions[2].

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - raw or cooked[3][4][5][6][7]. A delicious nut-like flavour, but very fiddly to extract due to the small size of the seed. Commercially there are machines designed to do this. Rich in fats, the seed can be ground into a powder[8], made into sunflower butter or used to make seed yoghurt. When mixed with cereal flours, it makes a nutritious bread[9]. Cultivars with up to 50% oil have been developed in Russia[10]. The oil contains between 44 - 72% linoleic acid[10]. The germinated seed is said to be best for seed yoghurt, it is blended with water and left to ferment[7]. The sprouted seed can be eaten raw[7]. A nutritional analysis of the seed is available[10].

Young flower buds - steamed and served like globe artichokes[11][12][6][13][7]. A mild and pleasant enough flavour, but rather fiddly[K]. Average yields range from 900 - 1,575 kg/ha of seed, however yields of over 3,375 kg/ha have been reported[14]. A high quality edible semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed[3]. It is low in cholesterol[9], and is said to be equal in quality to olive oil[3]. Used in salads, margarines, or in cooking[11][15][16][17][5][8][7][14]. The roasted seed is a coffee and drinking chocolate substitute[3][18][19][20]. Another report says the roasted hulls are used[7].

The leaf petioles are boiled and mixed in with other foodstuffs[18].

Unknown part

Coffee
Oil

Flowers

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Stem

Unknown use

Material uses

An edible semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed. Some varieties contain up to 45% oil[21]. The oil is also used, often mixed with a drying oil such as linseed (Linum usitatissimum) to make soap, candles, varnishes, paint etc, as well as for lighting. The oil is said to be unrivalled as a lubricant[3][22][15][16][19][14].

A blotting paper is made from the seed receptacles[11][3][6][13]. A high quality writing paper is made from the inner stalk[3][4][19][6]. The pith of the stems is one of the lightest substances known, having a specific gravity of 0.028[3]. It has a wide range of applications, being used for purposes such as making life-saving appliances and slides for microscopes[3][16][21]. The dried stems make an excellent fuel, the ash is rich in potassium[3]. Both the dried stems and the empty seed receptacles are an excellent kindling[3]. A fibre from the stem is used to make paper[3] and a fine quality cloth[23][5][6]. A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[3][4][5][8]. A purple-black dye is obtained from the seed of certain varieties that were grown by the Hopi Indians of S.W. North America[13][24]. Sunflowers can be grown as a spring-sown green manure, they produce a good bulk of material[25].

Root secretions from the plant can inhibit the growth of nearby plants[26].

Unknown part

Blotting paper
Dye
Fibre
Fuel
Herbicide
Kindling
Microscope
Paper

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

A tea made from the leaves is astringent, diuretic and expectorant, it is used in the treatment of high fevers[2]. The crushed leaves are used as a poultice on sores, swellings, snakebites and spider bites[2][27]. The leaves are harvested as the plant comes into flower and are dried for later use[28].

A tea made from the flowers is used in the treatment of malaria and lung ailments[2][27]. The flowering head and seeds are febrifuge, nutritive and stomachic[18]. The seed is also considered to be diuretic and expectorant[3][10][2]. It has been used with success in the treatment of many pulmonary complaints[3].

A decoction of the roots has been used as a warm wash on rheumatic aches and pains[27].

Unknown part

Diuretic
Expectorant
Febrifuge
Stomachic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Green manure

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow in mid spring in situ. An earlier start can be made by sowing 2 - 3 seeds per pot in a greenhouse in early spring. Use a fairly rich compost. Thin to the strongest seedling, give them an occasional liquid feed to make sure they do not become nutrient deficient and plant them out in late spring or early summer. Seed, harvested at 12% moisture content and stored, will retain its viability for several years[14].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Helianthus annuus. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils[23][15][13], including poor soils provided they are deep and well-drained[14], but it grows best in a deep rich soil[23][29]. Plants are intolerant of acid or waterlogged conditions[14]. Especially when grown for its edible seed, the plant prefers a sunny position[23][15][13][14] though it also tolerates light shade[23]. Requires a neutral or preferably calcareous soil[29]. As sunflowers have highly efficient root systems, they can be grown in areas which are too dry for many other crops[14]. Established plants are quite drought-resistant except during flowering[13][14]. The sunflower tolerates an annual precipitation of 20 - 400cm, an average annual temperature in the range of 6 - 28°C and a pH in the range of 4.5 - 8.7[14].

The young growth is extremely attractive to slugs, plants can be totally destroyed by them[K]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[30]. The sunflower is a very ornamental plant that is widely grown in gardens and is also a major commercial crop for its edible seed and many other uses[23][3]. It grows well in Britain, but it does not ripen its seed reliably in this country and so is not suitable for commercial cultivation at the present[K]. It is the state flower of Kansas[12]. Three distinct groups of sunflowers are cultivated:- 

         Giant types grow from 1.8 - 4.2 metres tall with flower heads 30 - 50cm in diameter. The seeds are large, white or gray in colour, sometimes with black stripes, and are the best for culinary purposes, though the oil content is lower than for other types. 'Grey Stripe', 'Hopi Black Dye', 'Mammoth Russian' and 'Sundak' are examples of this type[7][29][14].
         Semi-dwarf types grow from 1.3 - 1.8 m tall, are early maturing and have heads 17 - 23 cm diameter. The seeds are smaller, black, gray or striped, the oil content is also higher. Examples include 'Pole Star' and 'Jupiter'
         Dwarf types grow from 0.6 - 1.4 m tall, are early maturing and have heads 14 - 16 cm in diameter[269. The seeds are small but the oil content is the highest. Examples include 'Advance' and 'Sunset'[14].

Some forms are being bred for greater cold tolerance and should be more reliable in Britain[13][31]. Plants tend to grow better in the south and south-west of England[3]. Most forms require a four month frost-free growing season[13], though some Russian cultivars can mature a crop in 70 days[14]. When plants are grown in cooler latitudes the seed contains higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty oils[13]. The plant has a strong taproot that can penetrate the soil to depth of 3 metres, it also has a large lateral spread of surface roots[14]. Sunflowers grow badly with potatoes but they do well with cucumbers and corn[32][33][26]. A very greedy and vigorous plant, it can inhibit the growth of nearby plants[33]. Plants tend to impoverish the soil if they are grown too often in the same place[13].

A good bee plant, providing large quantities of nectar[32][15][9]. The flowers attract beneficial insects such as lacewings and parasitic wasps[28]. These prey on various insect pests, especially aphis[28].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Helianthus annuus. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Helianthus annuus.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Helianthus annuus
Genus
Helianthus
Family
Compositae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]
Medicinal uses
[2][27][28][18][3][10]
Material uses & Functions
[21][3][22][15][16][19][14][11][6][13][4][23][5][8][24][25][26]
Botanic
[34][29]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Green manure
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
7
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
?
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
annual
Growth Rate
vigorous
Mature Size
3 x 0.3 meters
Fertility
self sterile
Pollinators
Bees, Flies
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

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"image:Sunflower Taleghan.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Sunflower Taleghan.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Sunflower Taleghan.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Sunflower Taleghan.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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References

  1. ? Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO ISBN 0112425291 (1984-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.5 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
  3. ? 3.003.013.023.033.043.053.063.073.083.093.103.113.123.133.143.153.163.173.183.19 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.4 Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87857-262-7 (1979-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.5 Sweet. M. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West. Naturegraph Co. ISBN 0-911010-54-8 (1962-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.46.56.6 Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences (1978-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.17.27.37.47.57.67.7 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.4 Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-23310-3 (1976-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.19.29.3 Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. ISBN 0-330-30725-8 (1990-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.110.210.310.410.5 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.111.211.311.4 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.112.2 Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press ISBN 0-8623-0343-9 (1967-00-00)
  13. ? 13.0013.0113.0213.0313.0413.0513.0613.0713.0813.0913.1013.11 Rosengarten. jnr. F. The Book of Edible Nuts. Walker & Co. ISBN 0802707699 (1984-00-00)
  14. ? 14.0014.0114.0214.0314.0414.0514.0614.0714.0814.0914.1014.1114.1214.1314.1414.15 Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - (1983-00-00)
  15. ? 15.015.115.215.315.415.515.6 Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press (1975-00-00)
  16. ? 16.016.116.216.316.4 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
  17. ? 17.017.1 Schery. R. W. Plants for Man. ()
  18. ? 18.018.118.218.318.4 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
  19. ? 19.019.119.219.319.4 Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press ISBN 0192176218 (1969-00-00)
  20. ? 20.020.1 Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books ISBN 0-394-72811-4 (1979-00-00)
  21. ? 21.021.121.2 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  22. ? 22.022.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
  23. ? 23.023.123.223.323.423.523.6 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  24. ? 24.024.1 Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden. ()
  25. ? 25.025.1 Woodward. L. Burge. P. Green Manures. Elm Farm Research Centre. (1982-00-00)
  26. ? 26.026.126.2 Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-304-34324-2 (1993-00-00)
  27. ? 27.027.127.227.3 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
  28. ? 28.028.128.228.3 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
  29. ? 29.029.129.229.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  30. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)
  31. ? Carruthers. S. P. (Editor) Alternative Enterprises for Agriculture in the UK. Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Univ. of Reading ISBN 0704909820 (1986-00-00)
  32. ? 32.032.1 Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins (1979-00-00)
  33. ? 33.033.1 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (1978-00-00)
  34. ? Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press (1955-00-00)

"image:Sunflower Taleghan.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Helianthus_annuus&oldid=77660"
Facts about "Helianthus annuus"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyCompositae +
Belongs to genusHelianthus +
Functions asGreen manure +
Has common nameSunflower +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has edible partUnknown part +, Flowers +, Seeds + and Stem +
Has edible useCoffee substitute +, Unknown use + and Oil +
Has environmental toleranceDrought +
Has fertility typeSelf sterile +, Bee + and Flies +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has growth rateVigorous +
Has hardiness zone7 +
Has imageSunflower Taleghan.jpg +
Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useBlotting paper +, Dye +, Fibre +, Fuel +, Herbicide +, Kindling +, Microscope + and Paper +
Has mature height3 +
Has mature width0.3 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useDiuretic +, Expectorant +, Febrifuge + and Stomachic +
Has primary imageSunflower Taleghan.jpg +
Has search namehelianthus annuus + and x +
Has shade toleranceLight shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameHelianthus annuus +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +