Sunflowers are said to be a symbol of adoration, loyalty, and longevity. Their bright yellow color is a sign of happiness, friendship, and intelligence. Much like the sun, sunflowers mirror vibrancy and give off an energy of life. National Sunflower Day reminds us to show our inner sunshine while taking the opportunity to share one of the earth’s most beautiful flowers.

Historically, sunflowers have been around since about 1000 BC. Native Americans used sunflowers as a valuable food source, oil, paint, textile, and during ceremonies. Interestingly, some archaeologists believe sunflowers may have been cultivated before corn. Today, sunflowers are still being used as a source of food, oils, and beauty treatments.

The U.S. is a massive producer of sunflowers. In fact, this bright, beautiful flower is a major crop in both North Dakota and South Dakota. In 2022, North Dakota produced 762 billion pounds of sunflowers. With the average height of a sunflower being five to six feet tall, a sunflower head can grow bigger than a human head. As the weight of the sunflower head becomes heavy, it begins to fall forward, causing the petals to fall off. Shortly after the petals fall off, harvest begins on the sunflower. On average, one sunflower can produce up to 2,000 sunflower seeds per head!

:https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-sunflower-day