Feel The Sunflower Smile!

     They are tall, bright and cheerful. Whenever you stare at them, then, expect a big return, they’ll give beautiful smiles in front of you that in fact, will make you feel happy. 
Their characteristics make them unique. They even have their own festivals wherein, those who have outstanding and striking qualities will receive awards! Well, you might be thinking that those descriptions will only fit for any beauty pageant that requires impressive qualities. 
       Yes, they are impressive, gorgeous and good looking but they are not people; instead, they are flowering plants that have their own exceptional beauty among the others.

       Sunflowers or Helianthus annuus are annual plants that bloom during summer season. Helianthus came from Greek words “helios” meaning sun and “anthos” meaning flower, while annuus means annual. These magnificent flowers are native to the Americas and depending on the variety, they grow as tall as fifteen feet! Also, one of their distinct ability when they started to bud is to face to the sun throughout the day, though mature flower heads usually face at east. This trait is called heliotropism, meaning the capability of a plant to respond and to move towards the sunlight.

          

       There are many types, colors and sizes of sunflowers today. Ranging from dwarf sunflowers, that are suitable for pots, to giant sunflowers, that are great for displays or for support to other plants. They are relatively easy to grow although for them to grow successfully; they need 6 to 8 hours of full direct sunlight, with less or minimal amount of light their stems become weak and will fall overtime.

       Sunflowers have one thousand to two thousand individual flowers on their center which attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. They bear lots of black or striped seeds during fall and these seeds are great for snacks not only for humans but also for birds. Sunflower oil can also be extracted from the seeds which can be used for cooking or for moisturizing your skin.

Sunflowers are truly magnificent plants in a way that they have numerous uses from being a decoration to being a tasty snack.