Sunflower: Summer days really become a party with the sunniest queen of the flowers!

Sunflower: Summer days really become a party with the sunniest queen of flowers!

What if you could crown one flower queen of summer flowers? Then you should definitely choose the majestic sunflower!
Did you know that in nature the flower rotates with the sun during the day? She doesn’t want to miss a ray…
At night the flower bud returns to the east, waiting for its beloved sun. We call this phenomenon heliotropism. Special right?

Colors and shapes of the sunflower

We mainly know the sunflower as the yellow beauty, but there are also orange, brown, cream-colored and dark red versions.
There is also plenty of variation in terms of shape: there are sunflowers with large or small flowers, with a single row of petals or with several whorls.
Whichever form you choose, the sunflower guarantees a good portion of summer feeling.

Symbolism of the sunflower

The sunflower often symbolizes the sun and love. In Greek mythology, the nymph Clytia falls madly in love with the sun god Apollo.
Although Clytia was very beautiful, Apollo did not return her love.
The result: Clytia died of misery, turned into a sunflower and so constantly rotated with the sun to see her sun god.
This cheerful flower has a very romantic but dramatic love story…

Origin of the sunflower

The sunflower is native to North and South America. Indians there ate the seeds from the flour, along with beans, corn and pumpkins.
People and animals still enjoy sunflower seeds today.
Did you know that the official name of the sunflower is Helianthus?
A combination of the Greek helios (sun) and anthos (flower).

Grow your own sunflowers

Growing your own sunflowers in your garden is a wonderful and satisfying experience. These majestic blooms with their large, bright buds and imposing height can transform your garden into a vibrant and colorful oasis. Whether you have a large garden or just a small balcony, sunflowers can be grown in both open ground and pots. To begin growing sunflowers, you need a sunny location where the plants will receive at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Sunflowers thrive in well-drained soil, so make sure the soil is well loosened and free of clumps before sowing. We recommend using organic potting soil when planting. If you choose to grow the sunflowers in pots, make sure there are plenty of drainage holes.

Different colors and shapes of sunflowers

There are several types of sunflowers to choose from, each with their own unique characteristics and beauty. Some popular varieties are the “Giant Sungold”, which can reach heights of up to 3 meters and produce large, yellow flower heads, and the “Velvet Queen”, with deep red petals and a height of about 1.5 meters. Other varieties include the “Teddy Bear” with double flower heads that resemble fuzzy yellow spheres.

When sowing sunflowers in the open ground, you can start as soon as the frost has passed and the soil has warmed up sufficiently. Sow the seeds about an inch deep and spaced 6 to 18 inches apart, depending on the size of the variety. Water the seeds regularly until they germinate, but be careful not to get the soil too wet as that can lead to fungal problems. You can sow sunflowers until the longest day, after that it becomes difficult because the sunflowers then get too little sun when they bloom.

If you want to cut your self-grown sunflowers to put in a vase, wait until the entire flower bud has yellow petals can be seen. If you cut the sunflower too early, there is a chance that they will not open properly.

Delivering flowers or gifts

Since 1991, deBloemist has been the specialist in flower delivery, both on a national and international level.
deBloemist offers you a wide choice of bouquets and flower arrangements that you can order.
A suitable gift for every occasion, for example, have a fruit basket delivered as a get well wish, or choose one of our other gifts such as champagne, cuddly toys, balloons or wine.