How do sunflowers get their name?

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With their big, bright, yellow petals, sunflowers kind of look like the sun! Their name comes from the fact that young sunflowers do something pretty amazing--they actually turn their faces toward the sun to follow it! They face east in the morning and west by the late afternoon. This trait is called heliotropism, and it means "following the sun."

Scientists classify sunflowers into a special category (genus) called helianthus, which comes from the Greek words "helios" (sun) and "anthos" (flower).

Interesting Sunflower Facts!

• The state flower of Kansas is the sunflower

• Dried or roasted sunflower seeds make a delicious snack, and the oil that comes from pressing the seeds is used in cooking

• Artist Vincent van Gogh painted a very famous painting called “Sunflowers”

• The plant is native to North America

• Some sunflowers can grow as tall as 15 feet!