Appearance
A tall flower with a sturdy stem and broad leaves, its dark centre surrounded by golden-yellow petals.
What looks like one large flower is a crowd of tiny flowers, opening in rings across its centre.
Growth & Habitat
Sunflowers grow in open fields and sunny gardens, often rising above the fences around them.
Sunflowers bloom through summer into early autumn, their heads growing heavy with seeds as the flowers fade.
Properties & Behaviour
Young sunflowers follow the sun across the sky. As they mature, they settle facing east, waiting for the morning light.
Uses & Customs
Sunflower seeds are roasted to eat or pressed for cooking oil, while the dried heads are hung where birds can reach them.
In Brighton Gate, innkeepers set out roasted sunflower seeds beside their cider, and the empty shells gather between cups.