Never is the optimistic disposition of sunflowers experienced in such stark relief than while crossing the state of Kansas, the iconic Midwestern Plains of the United States. Following the sun from morning’s rise to setting down, vast wild and cultivated fields of this popular flower are set side-by-side along Interstate 70.
Sunflowers in Kansas
Traversing through the east west cross-section of Kansas, sunflowers are found in the wild species plants set against a backdrop of the agricultural crops growing in cultivated fields. The rough and rangy native plants border high-speed roadways while, just inside wire fencing, sunflowers are protected for the food products they will generate.
The very erect sunflower plants growing in measured rows have the same rough-to-the-touch leaves and stems as the annual Helianthus familiar to backyard gardeners. The flowers develop into seed heads measuring approximately 14” across, depending on the variety. The ray flowers on cultivated plants are most often yellow with center disks of red or purple.
The wildflower species of Helianthus grow considerably smaller unimpressive blooms, when measured against two-handed size sunflowers of urban gardens. The species plants are so short they are easily trampled while walking the fields. Primarily seen in Kansas is H. cillaris and, to a lesser degree, are H. saticufolius and H. maximilliani in eastern Kansas.
The open prairies are prime sunflower habitat not requiring large amounts of water for the plants to survive. Helianthus grown as a crop, whose harvest will be capitalized on, does require an irrigation system to withstand the especially recent years of overly dry weather.
Identifying Helianthus Species
Helianthus is the botanical name for the familiar plant called sunflower, and its 52 native species in North America. While navigating the countryside for native plants, a field guide becomes very handy in identifying species.
The bristly minute-length hairs on the leaves and stems are what give the sunflower the characteristically coarse feel, despite the favored status of its big bright blooms. The solitary flower is made up of rays in the symbolic yellow color but hybrids bred for a home garden are found in orange, russet red, purple and in multi-colored combinations or white, too. The center of the bloom is a disk of dark purplish-black or red. The fruits form into seeds by early fall and afterwards harvested.
Helianthus cillaris, called Texas-blueweed, has bluish green foliage with thin flower stems rather than thick stalks. The willow leaf sunflower, H. saticufolius; Maximilian sunflower, H. maximillani, with a very narrow leaf, and the downy sunflower, H. mollis, with hairs giving off a grayish hue are found in the Midwestern prairie, including parts of Kansas. A narrow-leafed swamp sunflower, Helianthus aurgustifolius, grows throughout the southeastern United States and up along the eastern coast line to Maine; named for the wet landscapes this species prefers.
What is Learned from Growing Sunflower Plants
The numbered rhythm reflected in the sunflower design of arching rows in multiple directions is called the Fibonacci numbers. In Planthropology, garden author Ken Druse writes, “no matter the number of each in opposite directions the ratio is 10 – 1.618.” However, mathematics is not the only lesson the bloom has to teach us.
Kansas is so devoted to the plant; the sunflower is the state flower. While it has evolved into an agriculturally grown crop, even on a smaller scale the edible seeds still satisfies the palette of wildlife and humans alike,while the cut flower trade has benefited from an increased interest in living sunflowers to decorate the home.
Most recently, volunteers in Japan have looked to planting sunflowers to assist in improving the soil after pollution from spillage of radioactive materials contaminated the ground.
Gardeners have grown sunflowers in many gardens. The three sisters have had new life breathed into the Native American planting with sunflowers. Organic gardeners have long used the sunflower plant as a companion to their vegetable garden by inter-planting the seeds. Anyone of these planting strategies will benefit a landscape, no matter the size or scope of the plan.
Sources:
Brandenburg, David M. National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Wildflowers of North America. Sterling Publishing, April, 2010.
Druse, Ken. Planthropology. Clarkson Potter, November 4, 2008.
Permission received for all photos used in this article.
Chris Eirschele - Chris writes on plants grown and gardens explored; she is a member of the Garden Writers Association.
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