b'YEARSUNFLOWEROF THE ORIGIN: The wild sunflower is nativeplanting will be needed for continuous blooms to North America but was originallythroughout the season. Branching varieties produce commercialized in Russia. flowers on multiple shorter stems throughout the season, which makes them ideal for sunflowers all FAMILY: Asteraceae season long. Sunflowers also can produce pollen or be pollen-free.GENUS: HelianthusPOPULAR VARIETIES: HISTORY: Sunflowers originated inSingle stem:ProCut Series, Sunrich Series,the Americas and domestic seedsand Vincent Seriesdating back to 2100 BC have beenBranching:Autumn Beauty Mix, Soraya, SunBuzz, found in Mexico. Native AmericansSuncredible, Sunfinitygrew sunflowers as a crop, andPollen-free:Moulin Rouge, ProCut Series, Sunbuzz, explorers eventually brought theSunrich Series, Vincent Seriesflowers to Europe in the 1500s.Pollen: Soraya, Ring of Fire, ValentineOver the next few centuries, sunflowers became increasinglySNACKING: Some varieties have been bred to produce popular on the European and Asianlarge, edible seeds that are great for snacking. The continent, with Russian farmersseeds are ready to harvest once the petals have growing over two million acreswithered and the seeds can be seen.in the early 19th century (most of which was used to manufactureDID YOU KNOW?: Some people have a fear of sunflowers! sunflower oil). Its called Helianthophobia. FAMOUS ART: Dutch painter VincentBREEDERS: True Leaf Market, Jung Seed, Territorial Van Gogh famously painted aSeed Company, Johnnys Selected Seed, Silver Falls world-renowned still-life series ofSeed Company, Osborne Quality Seeds, American sunflowers. His sunflower paintingsMeadows, Harris Seeds, Urban Farmer, Select Seeds, are so famous, the Van GoghPW, Park Seed, Earl May, Botanical Interests, Burpee, museum has teamed up with theWillhite Seed Inc, West Coast Seeds, Pure Tree, Garden breeder of Sunrich sunflowers toTrends, Brecks, A. P. Whaley, Gardeners Supply create the Sunrich-Van GoghsCompanyFavorite label of sunflowers.Source: National Garden BureauTYPES: Sunflowers can be annual or perennial, but most sunflowers are annuals. From there, sunflowers can be single steam or branching. Single stem sunflower varieties are best for high-density plantings and produce consistently beautiful flowers on tall stems. Succession 44/ SEEDWORLD.COMFEBRUARY 2021'