One of the things that make sunflowers so special is their vibrant and uplifting appearance.

Simply looking at them can brighten your mood.

1. There Are Countless Varieties

While sunflowers are often thought of as classic yellow blooms, they come in a wide range of sizes and colors, including red, white, mahogany, and bronze. There are more than 70 cultivars of the Helianthus genus, with the common species being Helianthus annuus.

2. They're Easy to Grow

Sunflowers are among the easiest plants to grow, often sprouting spontaneously under bird feeders from dropped seeds. To grow your own, sow seeds directly into the soil after the last frost in spring. Alternatively, start seeds indoors and transplant them once the weather warms up.

3. The Tallest Sunflower Reached 30 Feet

In 2014, Hans-Peter Schiffer set a Guinness World Record for growing the tallest sunflower, which measured just over 30 feet (9.17 meters).

4. It's Hard to Extend the Life of Sunflower Blooms

Once a sunflower is planted and blooming, it's vibrant rays (petals) are short-lived. If the plant has multiple stems, you can deadhead spent flowers to redirect energy to new buds.

5. Sunflowers Thrive in Full Sun

Sunflowers require at least eight hours of full sunlight each day to thrive. If their need for direct sun is met, they’ll reward you with long-lasting blooms throughout the summer and sometimes into fall.

6. Sunflowers Track the Sun

Immature sunflower buds exhibit heliotropism, or solar tracking, meaning they follow the sun’s movement across the sky from east to west during the day. By dawn, the buds reorient to face east again.

7. The Myth Behind Sunflowers

Greek mythology offers a poetic explanation for why sunflowers follow the sun. The story of Clytie and Helios, the sun king, is one of love and heartbreak. Clytie, a nymph, was in love with Helios, who initially returned her affection. However, Helios later fell for Leucothea, a mortal woman. Out of jealousy, Clytie revealed their affair to Leucothea’s father, who punished his daughter by burying her alive. Enraged, Helios abandoned Clytie.

8. Sunflowers Are an Essential Food Source

Sunflowers have been cultivated as a food plant for thousands of years. Native American tribes in present-day Arizona and New Mexico began domesticating the sunflower around 3000 B.C.E., possibly even before corn.

9. A Single Sunflower Can Produce Up to 2,000 Seeds

Each sunflower head can yield between 1,000 and 2,000 seeds. The most familiar type, commonly used for snacking, features a black-and-white striped hull. Other varieties, such as black or white sunflower seeds, are often used for producing sunflower oil rather than as snacks.

10. How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds

To harvest sunflower seeds for eating, you need to grow annual sunflowers (Helianthus annuus). According to Raleigh Wasser, the flower heads should be harvested after the leaves have shriveled but before seasonal rains begin.

11. Sunflower Oil Can Be Made at Home

Sunflower seeds can also be used to produce homemade sunflower oil, which can serve as a cooking ingredient or be used in beauty products.