Sunflowers are annual plants of the genus Helianthus (from the Greek "helios" - meaning "sun", and "anthos" - meaning "flower"). They get their name from the fact that their round, golden blossoms grow facing the moving sun. Sunflowers are native to North America, where they were known to native peoples more than 8,000 years ago. Archeological evidence suggests that sunflowers were cultivated and improved upon as early as 2300 B.C., possibly predating the farming of corn, beans, and squash. Sunflower seeds provided a handy source of nutrition to the indigenous tribes of America, while dyes were extracted from petals and pollen. Pulverized seeds also yielded oil, which was used for cooking and in hair treatments. Various parts of sunflowers were also involved in traditional medicinal applications.

In the middle of the 1900's, it was the Russians who extensively hybridized sunflowers, developing new varieties which were bred for maximum oil seed production and disease resistance. Of the many garden cultivars which are popular today, it's the "Russian Giant" which seems most spectacular. Its impressive photos on seed packets and pictures in garden catalogs -- depicting them towering over normal-sized humans -- captivate our attention, with flower heads often a foot or more across.

Our fascination with sunflowers has undoubtedly been fueled by their notoriety as the subjects of fine art. Vincent Van Gogh immortalized them in a series of canvases painted in the late 1800's. His colleague, Paul Gauguin, even painted Van Gogh as he painted his sunflowers in the small studio they temporarily shared in the south of France. Another Impressionist artist, Claude Monet, painted his own dazzling picture of a vase of sunflowers. These and other works became world famous, and provided inspiration for generations of artists to come, encompassing photos, graphic designs, and sculptures as well as paintings. Such a lofty role for our common but radiant garden sunflowers!

Sunflowers are really quite easy to grow. They'll thrive in just about any garden, provided they have plenty of sunlight. Being annuals, sunflowers sprout readily from fresh seed, and they complete their growing cycle in just one season. A rich, loamy soil is best. Make sure they get regular waterings, as their roots are relatively shallow. Sow successive plantings, two weeks apart, to lengthen your enjoyment of the harvest. Giant varieties of sunflowers may require staking to prevent them from falling over under the weight of enormous seed heads.