SUNFLOWERS BRING SMILES, GOOD HEALTH
The popular plant has a long history in Canada, and innovations continue today
If there ever was a flower that made you smile, it must have been the incredibly popular sunflower.
Whether it is a 10-foot giant growing in your garden, a sunny cut flower in a vase, or one of the many new exciting potted varieties, they all shine with a cheery, uplifting countenance.
Helianthus annuus, the common sunflower, is one of more than 70 species, most of which are U.S. natives, except for a few species from South America. According to archeologists, Indigenous peoples living in the area today known as Arizona and New Mexico were the first to cultivate this species around 3000 BC. These people were also the first to select varieties containing more oil to grind as flour for breads and for mixing with other early vegetables like corn and squash. The seeds were also eaten, and oils were extracted for use as skin ointments and hair treatments.
In the 1500s, Spanish explorers were the first to take seeds back to western Europe. The general populace enjoyed this new novelty, and the interest in sunflowers grew rather quickly. It was, however, the Russian Orthodox Church that dramatically increased the production.
Because of their strict rules banning meats and most oils during Lent, the high protein and oil content of sunflower kernels became an important component of the Russian diet. By the early 1800s, more than two million acres were in production. Early Russian and Ukrainian growers began breeding programs to significantly increase the oil content and seed yield.
Russian immigrants, more than likely, brought seeds with them to the United States, and by 1880 early American seed companies were offering ‘Mammoth Russian’ sunflower seeds in their catalogues. This variety is still being sold today.
In the early 1900s, the first commercial crops in the U.S. were grown for poultry silage. By 1926, the Missouri Sunflower Growers Association was processing sunflower seeds into oil. As sunflower crops grew in popularity, by 1970, five million hectares were devoted to their production.
In 1930, the Canadian government began its own breeding program with the breeding material coming from our Russian Mennonite communities.
In 1964, Canada licensed a Russian cultivar known as ‘Peredovik,’ which was valued for its superior yields and high oil content. Today in Canada there are three types of sunflowers grown commercially in large numbers.
The first is grown for “oil seeds”: small black seeds that have a very high oil content. These seeds are primarily used to produce sunflower oil. They are also one of the best seeds to feed wild birds.
The second is grown for the larger black and white seeds, which are used for a range of food products, from snack foods to a variety of other products, including bread. An ounce of raw sunflower kernels contains 160 calories, and sunflower seeds are powerhouses of phytochemicals and important vitamins and minerals. They contain high levels of vitamin E, betaine, phenolic acids and other health-promoting properties.
The third and fastest-growing use is for cut flower production. The new seedless, pollen-free hybrids, with their smaller, lighter weight heads, produce blooms that last longer than the seeded types.
B.C. growers are producing millions of these sunflower blooms, which come in a wide range of colours and varieties, for both the local and export markets. The ‘Sunrich Orange Summer’ is one of the most popular varieties. ‘Moulin Rouge,’ a rich reddish mahogany bicolour, and a new creamy white, ‘ProCut White Nite,’ are expanding the colour range and increasing the popularity of unique sunflowers in floral design.
A recent innovation is growing more compact sunflowers (15 to 60 centimetres tall) as potted flowering plants. Most are pollen-free to avoid pollen stains on your clothes or on your nose. ‘Suntastic Yellow’ is one of the best, producing three waves of 15-cm flowers over a longer bloom period. It’s an All-America Selections winner and is ideal for low bedding or container plants.
Potted sunflowers also make nice indoor plants. ‘SunBuzz,’ ‘Sunny Smile’ and ‘Miss Sunshine’ are all great compact varieties. As a gift, it would be hard to find another potted plant that is more uplifting.
Indoors, most potted varieties do not last much longer than 10 to 20 days, but because of the vibrancy they bring to any setting, they are well worth purchasing. This year, however, for the first time there is a potted sunflower that lasts most of the summer. ‘Sunfinity Yellow Dark Eye’ grows anywhere from 91 cm to 1.2 metres tall and wide. This nextgeneration, non-stop bloomer produces multiple branches and seems to keep pushing out new branches and new blooms. It is ideal for adding fresh colour to patio containers and brightening up your fall garden.
Sunflowers are particularly useful in organic gardens. Because they attract pollinators and other beneficial insects, it’s very effective to plant them among squash and pumpkins to assist in the fertilization of their blooms. Once the seeds are mature, they are a great food source, and many birds will also show up to feast. According to West Coast Seeds, sunflowers are used to eliminate phyto toxins, like lead arsenic, from the soil through a process called phyto remediation.
Sunflowers have come a long way from their early beginnings, and this is their time to shine. As cut stems, they’ll be available well into October and longer as a potted plant. So, enjoy them while you can.
If you’d like to experience a whole field of sunflowers, visit the first Chilliwack Sunflower Festival until Sept. 16 at 41310 Yale Rd. in Chilliwack. For directions, ticket information and details about this unique late summer event, check chilliwacksunflowerfestival.com