Annual Sunflower
Annual Sunflowers, Dorset
Escape, Lune earth dyke, Lancaster
Sunflower - ray and disc florets
Side view
Sepals
Leaves
Seed head
Close-up of seeds
Helianthus annuus
Asteraceae
August to October
It is scattered throughout the country but is less common in
the North.
See the BSBI distribution map for Annual Sunflower
It is a neophyte which has been grown in the UK since the 1590s
in gardens and allotments and in fields as a crop. It has been
known in the wild since the early 1900s.
It grows as an escape on waste ground, rubbish tips and by roads.
Annual Sunflower is a tall, eye-catching annual, growing up to 3m
Flowerheads can reach 30cm across.
Outer florets are golden yellow, and disc florets brown,
Sepals are large, dark green and pointed.
Leaves are heart-shaped, and up to 40cm.
Stems and leaves are roughly hairy.
It is grown as a crop for the oil-bearing seeds.
As an escape or casual, it is on the increase.
Previous page: August/September
Next page: Atlas Cedar
Annual Sunflowers, Dorset
Escape, Lune earth dyke, Lancaster
Sunflower - ray and disc florets
Side view
Sepals
Leaves
Seed head
Close-up of seeds
© Copyright 2004-2022 - CMS Made Simple
This site is powered by CMS Made Simple version 1.11.9