This alignment results from heliotropism in an earlier development stage, the young flower stage, before full maturity of flower heads ( anthesis). [8] Young sunflowers orient themselves in the direction of the sun. At dawn the head of the flower faces east and moves west throughout the day. When sunflowers reach full maturity they no longer follow the sun, and continuously face east. Young flowers reorient overnight to face east in anticipation of the morning. Their heliotropic motion is a circadian rhythm, synchronized by the sun, which continues if the sun disappears on cloudy days or if plants are moved to constant light. [9] They are able to regulate their circadian rhythm in response to the blue-light emitted by a light source. [9] If a sunflower plant in the bud stage is rotated 180°, the bud will be turning away from the sun for a few days, as resynchronization with the sun takes time. [10] The Mammoth Grey Stripe is a massive sunflower,. just as its name implies. In fact, it is known as the giant of all sunflowers. Stalks of the Mammoth Grey can reach up to 12′ high, and the flowering heads are magnificently huge! Sunflowers are becoming more popular than ever for growing in home gardens and flowerbeds. They are also finding their way into containers and pots to help brighten up porches and patios with stunning color.

That is what has most probably happened, but there are also certain factors that can, very rarely, cause a regular giant sunflower to produce multiple flower heads. So the plants that are grown from seed won’t be replicas of the parent plant. You could end up with another single-headed giant sunflower but you are more likely to end up with one with multiple flower heads.

I could get many more flowers off a plant like this and I imagine that the more I cut the more flowers the plant will produce. Not Giant! The big seed companies take lots of special steps to make sure that the hybrids they sell are only fertilised in a certain way so they remain the same as the parent plant. This is impossible when growing sunflowers out in your garden or allotment. Conclusion The seeds also happen to a be a favorite of birds and wildlife, and can be left on the heads to help feed through the cold winter months. Seed Link: Autumn Beauty Sunflower Growing Sunflowers In Pots & Containers When growth of the flower stalk stops and the flower is mature, the heliotropism also stops and the flower faces east from that moment onward. This eastward orientation allows rapid warming in the morning and, as a result, an increase in pollinator visits. [9] Sunflowers do not have a pulvinus below their inflorescence. A pulvinus is a flexible segment in the leaf stalks (petiole) of some plant species and functions as a 'joint'. It effectuates leaf motion due to reversible changes in turgor pressure, which occurs without growth. The sensitive plant's closing leaves are a good example of reversible leaf movement via pulvinuli.

A model for the pattern of florets in the head of a sunflower was proposed by H. Vogel in 1979. [17] This is expressed in polar coordinates r = c n , {\displaystyle r=c{\sqrt {n}},} θ = n × 137.5 ∘ , {\displaystyle \theta =n\times 137.5 Well, the truth is that you have probably inadvertently grown a multi-headed sunflower. There are lots of varieties that are multi-headed.This is another way that you can get multi-headed sunflowers. If you save the seed and grow new sunflowers from these seeds then you can get all sorts of exciting results. In fact, they are better suited to direct seeding. That means there is no need to worry about growing transplants indoors. Even better, they can grow well in almost any soil condition, and require little maintenance other than a bit of water as seedlings. Simply wait for the soil to warm up completely in late spring, and plant away!

I must say that I do quite like it and if I was to grow sunflowers as a cut flower then this would definitely be a better choice over a standard giant sunflower. In the binomial name Helianthus annuus the genus name is derived from the Greek ἥλιος: hḗlios 'sun' and ἄνθος: ánthos 'flower'. The species name annuus means 'annual' in Latin. It really is hard to beat the incredible beauty and elegance sunflowers bring to your landscape. From tall to small, big to large, and everything in between, the stately sunflower can be found in a vast variety of colors and sizes. From massive sunflowers that tower along a barn or fence row, to a myriad of mid-size and miniature varieties that can fill flowerbeds and containers with vibrant color, there is a sunflower to grow for every space and place. Other differences I have found with this particular sunflower are its size and also appearance of the flower.

The Italian white sunflower’s creamy petal and stoic looks go great anywhere in the landscape. They also make for a stunning cut flower in vases. If you are looking for a sunflower variety to harvest large amounts of seed, this is certainly a top choice. They are perfect for growing along a fence row, or up against a barn or building. The stalks are fast growing and extremely woody and strong. Seed Link : Mammoth Grey Sunflower Seeds Skyscraper Sunflower And if all that wasn’t enough, there is of course, the healthy and bountiful seed crop sunflowers produce. Sunflower seeds are healthy and nutritious, and provide a great food source to you, and surrounding wildlife. And with seed heads that can contain as many as 1000+ seeds, can they ever produce! Planting And Growing Sunflowers The plant was first domesticated in the Americas. Sunflower seeds were brought to Europe from the Americas in the 16th century, where, along with sunflower oil, they became a widespread cooking ingredient. With time, the bulk of industrial-scale production has shifted to Eastern Europe, and (as of 2020 [update]) Russia and Ukraine together produce over half of worldwide seed production. Multi-headed sunflower varieties do exist, if you are sure you were growing a single-headed giant sunflower variety then it is probably just a mix-up with the seed. Sunflowers grown from your own saved seed can also produce multi-headed sunflowers.

Planting sunflowers in your landscape is like growing your own little slice of sunshine and happiness! A true miniature when it comes to growing sunflowers. This variety makes for the ultimate potted sunflower plant! Growing only about a foot high, the Junior sunflower has a dark inner circle and bright yellow outer petals. Not only does it stay compact in pots, it also make a great hedgerow or bed edging plant as well. Seed Link : Junior Sunflower Seeds Perhaps the best part of all to growing sunflowers is just how easy they are to plant and maintain. Sunflowers are fast growers that love warm soil. And because of that, they can be directly seeded into flowerbeds, gardens and containers. But beyond their stunning beauty, sunflowers also lend a helping hand to other plants in your landscape. Their gorgeous big blooms are more than just eye-catching to humans, they also attract large numbers of honey bees and bumble bees.Now I have no idea what this sunflower is, I thought it was just going to be a regular giant sunflower so was pretty surprised when I saw multiple flower heads forming. Vanilla ice produces florist-quality blooms in large clusters of light yellow and cream flowers with deep chocolate eyes on plants 5-6′. Helianthus annuus (common sunflower) belong to the dicotyledonous category, distinguishing them from monocots. As dicots, sunflowers possess embryos with two veins, known as cotyledons, a characteristic feature that sets them apart. The veins in their leaves exhibit a net-like pattern, in contrast to monocots, which typically display parallel leaf veins. So you are happily growing a sunflower, expecting one giant flower head but then notice multiple flower heads budding and appearing on your plant. What exactly is going on? Why do you have a multi-headed sunflower? Multi Headed Sunflowers So, what’s Going On?