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Sunflower flowers (Latin Helianthus annuus) are inflorescences of an annual plant from the Astrov family, the genus Sunflower. Popular names: grass of the sun, Peruvian flower, sunflower. In the pharmacy, dried petals can be purchased under the names: Helianthi flos or Flores Helianthi. The root of the plant is pivotal, sinks 3-3.5 m deep into the soil. The stem is hollow, powerful, branched. The leaves are large, cordate, pubescent with short petals. The lower ones are sessile, the upper ones have short petioles. In the center of the inflorescence-basket there are tubular flowers of yellow, orange and purple, ligulate flowers along the edges. The basket is surrounded by ruffled leaves. The flowers are arranged in spirals called Fibonacci arcs. In an inflorescence of a medium-sized sunflower, 34 spirals are twisted in one direction, and 55 in the opposite direction. In large heads of spirals of different directions 89 and 144. Flowers are pollinated by wind and bees. In the basket, fruits are formed, which are called seeds. It is because of them that the plant is cultivated throughout The globe except for cold climates. North America is considered the small homeland of sunflower, but by the 15th century it was successfully grown in England, France, Spain.
Composition and calorie content of sunflower flowers
Flower petals can be purchased at a pharmacy or a store that sells a variety of teas. Hungary and Poland specialize in collecting inflorescences.
The calorie content of sunflower flowers is low, therefore, when calculating the nutritional value of dishes and drinks, it is not taken into account.
Chefs and pharmacists appreciate chemical composition sunflower flowers, in it a large number of useful substances:
- Vitamin D- ensures the absorption of magnesium, phosphorus and calcium, increases the strength of bones and muscle tissue;
- Vitamin E- prevents the formation of blood clots and slows down age-related changes;
- Vitamin K- increases blood clotting;
- Magnesium- participates in the fermentation process, is necessary for the production of protein, the breakdown of glucose and the removal of toxins;
- Flavonoids- strengthen blood vessels and relieve spasms, block the synthesis of mast cells, have an anti-inflammatory effect;
- Carotene- strengthens the regenerative properties of the skin, improves visual function;
- Betaine- stimulates the production of bile, promotes the digestion of food and the absorption of nutrients;
- Phenolcarboxylic acids- have an anti-inflammatory effect, but with a high content, they can provoke intoxication;
- Stearin- renders positive influence to work the nervous system and stimulates the formation of brain cells;
- Glycosides- stabilize the work of the muscles responsible for the contraction of the heart, in particular, the myocardium;
- Choline- it is a vitamin of group B (B4), lowers blood cholesterol levels, has a sedative effect and prevents the development of depression;
- Anthocyanins- are antioxidants and have antimicrobial, pronounced antibacterial effect;
- Astaxanthin- slows down the processes of photoaging and protects the gastric mucosa from the aggressive effects of hydrochloric acid;
- Lecithin- normalizes the functioning of the central nervous system and maintains a stable level of blood pressure;
- Tannins- reduce the secretory function of the digestive tract, protect the mucous membrane from toxins and pathogenic bacteria.
Useful properties of sunflower flowers
Despite the fact that the Inca and Maya revered the plant as sacred, healers widely introduced the petals into medicines.
The benefits of sunflower flowers:
- They have an anti-inflammatory effect and reduce the characteristic symptoms of colds.
- They have an analgesic effect when taken orally and anesthetic as a local agent, lower the temperature.
- Eliminate the manifestation of allergies - urticaria, itchy skin; help to cure eczema, neurodermatitis, psoriasis.
- They have mucolytic and expectorant effects.
- Eliminate intestinal spasms and cramps in the limbs.
- They stop the activity of the herpes virus.
- They have a pronounced diuretic effect, promote the removal of calculi from the kidneys.
- They isolate toxic substances in the intestines and prevent intoxication.
- They stimulate bile secretion and accelerate its movement along the ducts.
- They have a sedative effect, prevent the development of depression, and fight nervous irritability.
- They prevent the formation of cholesterol plaques in the vessels, prevent the development of ischemic and hypertension and atherosclerosis.
Contraindications and harm of solar grass
You should not supplement the diet with dishes, the ingredient of which are sunflower inflorescences, if you have to constantly control your weight. Their use improves appetite.
Sunflower flowers can cause harm in people with an individual intolerance to this type of plant. An allergic reaction can occur in persons who cannot eat seeds, sunflower oil, cannot walk along a flowering field without first taking an antihistamine.
You should not experiment with drugs from the arsenal of traditional medicine for pregnant, lactating and children under 12 years old. There is no need to supplement the above categories with dried flowers - the medical effect is too pronounced and it is not known what organic reactions will occur.
How are sunflower flowers eaten?
Collecting sunflower flowers begins immediately after flowering. The tubular flowers should be soft to the touch, and the marginal flowers should be thin and delicate. Once the seed begins to form, all parts of the plant will coarse.
Do not eat sunflower flowers as herbs, adding to cold dishes and snacks. Before fresh use, they must be pre-blanched. Only in this way can a pronounced choleretic effect be stopped.
For culinary purposes, inflorescences are rarely used. You can try adding scalded tubular flowers to boiled vegetable salads, or garnish snacks with bright outer petals.
To prepare a salad with sunflower flowers, combine a chopped head of red cabbage, 200 g of spinach, fresh tubular flowers - 1.5-2 cups, a bunch of shredded cilantro. Stir in 2 pressed garlic cloves. Dressing: 1/4 cup each apple cider vinegar and olive oil, a tablespoon of Dijon mustard. Salt, pepper, stir vigorously and cover, allow to stand for 10-15 minutes for the juice to stand out. If there is little juice, add 1-2 tablespoons of boiled water, mix again. Sprinkle with hot fried sunflower seeds and chopped basil before serving. Served right there.
French peasants in the 18th-19th centuries baked tubular flowers along with artichokes on coals, and now chefs from elite restaurants can offer guests fresh steamed sunflower buds seasoned with various spices and herbs. But these dishes are rather experimental, and gourmets are able to appreciate them.
The inflorescences give a new taste to marinades and pickles, but they are not used in their pure form as spices. Vinegar is infused on the flowers: fill the jar by 1/3 and fill it with ordinary vinegar essence. Then the liquid is filtered, squeezing the cake. Store in a tightly closed glass container out of sunlight.
Sunflower Flower Drink Recipes:
- ... Brew a tablespoon of dried flowers different types 0.5 l of water, let stand for 15 minutes, filter. It quenches thirst wonderfully in the hot season. Sweeten with fructose.
- Hearty drink... Pour boiling milk over sunflower flowers, leave for 20 minutes, sweeten. Dilute with half water.
- Compote... Vitamin compote is boiled from dried fruits and fresh tubular flowers are poured in 1-2 minutes before turning off, 1 handful per 1 liter of liquid. They are filtering. Better to sweeten with honey.
Official medicine introduces the flowers of the sun plant into many medicines. But the Indians attached an esoteric meaning to this healing ingredient. They believed that such an additive to a mixture, tincture or dish balances the female and masculinity, increases confidence in own forces.
Thanks to its subtle and sophisticated scent, sunflower flowers are added to bath mixes, soap and candles. To scent bed linen, you can make a sachet yourself - dry the petals in the shade in daylight.
The Peruvian Indians, Incas, Aztecs and Otomi of Mexico worshiped the sunflower as a solar deity. The locals called the god Punchao or Inti. They made golden images of the plant and worshiped them.
In Europe, seeds were first sown in 1510 in the botanical garden of Madrid. Botanist and naturalist L'Aubel in 1576 called the plant the flower of the sun. At first, the plant was grown for decorative purposes, and then for medicinal purposes, and only then as a food crop. However, seeds became "popular" much later, by the 18th century, and were used as a substitute for coffee beans. For the manufacture of oil, they began to be used in early XIX century. And in the 17th century, flower baskets were baked on coals and consumed with sunflower oil and vinegar.
The sunflower was brought to Russia by Peter I, where the large-scale production of sunflower oil began. Here the seeds were appreciated in the same form as they are used now. They have become a favorite folk delicacy.
But in America, latex was mined from sunflowers. Products made from it are hypoallergenic and in demand in medicine.
The sunflower flower is a symbol:
- In Kansas (USA) and Kitakyush (Japan) - cities;
- Vegan Society;
- The aesthetic movement in the 19th century;
- The Spiritualist Church;
- Sunflower Movement - 2014 protest.
Popular sunflower varieties are presented in the table:
| Name | Characteristic | Maturation, days |
| Antaeus | Medium basket 23 cm, medium height | 111 |
| Bohdan | High-yielding, basket 18 cm | 112-118 |
| Odysseus | High, 24 cm | 105-109 |
| Yang | High yielding, 25 cm, large seeds | 100-104 |
| Alexey | Small, undersized, basket up to 20 cm | 114 |
| Gourmet | Stunted, ecologically adapted | 110 |
| Nutcracker | Drought resistant | 114-119 |
Recipes with Sunflower Flowers Medicines:
- From temperature and to eliminate the symptoms of ARVI... A tablespoon is insisted in a glass of boiling water and a tablespoon of honey is diluted. You can take 2-3 glasses a day.
- To improve immunity and prevent colds... Reed petal flowers are folded tightly in glass jar filling by 1/3. Pour in vodka and put away in a dark place. Insist at room temperature until the liquid in the jar turns into a dark oily substance. Dose for adults - 1 tablespoon 3 times a day one hour after meals. For adolescents, a teaspoon 2 times a day is enough. The medicine is very effective, the duration of treatment is no longer than 3 days. Can be used as an external remedy for psoriasis.
- For gout... A tincture is made, as in the previous recipe, only instead of flowers, a mixture of an equal number of flowers and lower leaves is poured with vodka or alcohol. It is taken on an empty stomach in a tablespoon diluted in half a glass of water for 30 days.
- From muscle strain... Dried flowers are brewed so as to obtain a homogeneous gruel, the excess liquid is filtered off and the raw materials are used as lotions.
- Antipyretic... Dense tea is brewed - 4 tablespoons of flowers in a glass of water. It is taken hot in half or a third of the glass symptomatically.
- Diuretic... Brew with boiling water, 250 ml, 2 tablespoons of sunflower flowers, boil for 10 minutes. Strain, wring out. The liquid is brought up to its original volume. Take 2 tablespoons 20 minutes before each meal, 4 times a day.
Regardless of the cultivars, flowers have the same properties. By planting a sunflower on garden plot, you solve several problems: you will improve your health and receive a valuable addition to the diet.
This annual herb with wonderful "sunny" flowers will decorate any home garden. How many gardeners know that the sunflower we are used to belongs to a species that has more than 150 ornamental varieties?
The origin of the ornamental sunflower
Seeds were also brought from the Mexican expedition of Christopher Columbus to Europe unusual plant, which later received its name from the shape of the flower - Helianthus (from the Greek "helios" - the sun and "anthos" - a flower).
Then, in the 16th century, the plant caused genuine admiration for its unusual shape of flowers: paintings and poems - art workers captured the beauty of this culture in their works.
The sun flower came to Russia thanks to Peter the Great: he brought seeds and ordered domestic gardeners to grow an unusual culture. It was as an ornamental plant that the sunflower then spread, which is now used in agriculture... But varieties for flower beds were bred by breeders much later: new varieties still appear, differing in height, size of inflorescences, their shade and quantity.
Description of the species
Helianthus is a herbaceous plant that is grown all over the world: in South and North America, Europe, Japan and even in Africa. Decorative sunflowers are included in bouquets, used in landscape design and grown as potted flowers on a windowsill. And the inhabitants of Austria fell in love with the sun flower so much that they even opened the "Sunflower Park", where all possible wild and selective varieties of this culture are collected.
Today, the species is usually divided into 2 subspecies:
sowing sunflower;
decorative sunflower.
There are both annual and perennial varieties.
Many varieties of helianthus look like it is even difficult to associate them with their progenitor - nowadays agricultural sunflower, from the seeds of which the favorite oil in every family is obtained.
Colour. The color of helianthus flowers can be very diverse: white, cream, apricot, orange, burgundy, lemon, brown and, of course, yellow.
The flower shape is simple, as well as semi-double and even double.
Petal shape: round, long, twisted into a tube, curved.
In diameter, flowers of different varieties can be from 5 to 30 cm.
Plant stem height. Plants are conventionally divided into 3 groups by height:
giant varieties reaching 2-3 m in height ("Russian giant", "Tall Single", "Yellow giant", "Titan", "Russian mammoth", "Bismarckianus");
medium-sized varieties, the height of which is from 1 to 1.5 m;
compact varieties, up to 60 cm high ("Teddy Bear", "Pacino", "Music Box", "Sunny Bunny").
All varieties have a delicate aroma and are honey plants.
Varieties of decorative sunflowers
We will not list all the varieties known today. Let's talk only about the most popular of them:
"Teddy bear" - this variety is very much loved by the gardeners of our country. An annual plant does not exceed 1 m in height, in the middle of summer it blooms with large (22 cm in diameter) double flowers, the color of which is bright yellow. Flowering continues until autumn.
"Red Sun" - a variety bred by domestic breeders, has gained popularity all over the world. It has red-brown petals, a long flowering period, and can reach 2 m in height.
Vanilla Ice is a famous cut cultivar. Flowers are non-double vanilla shades.
"Moulin Rouge" - has an unusual color: burgundy-red petals become lighter towards the edges and darker towards the center of the flower.
"Kong" is the tallest ornamental sunflower - the height of an adult crop is 5 m. It is often planted in private plots to create a hedge.
"ProCut Red Lemon BiColor" - has inflorescences of two shades: the inner part of the petals is red, the outer part is pale yellow, and the core of the flower is black.
"Pacino" - very small plant with expressive bright yellow flowers.
“Big Smile” is a low-growing variety (maximum 30 cm) with yellow flowers with a black center.
"Sunspot" is an amazing dwarf variety with huge flowers(20-25 cm in diameter).
"Music Box" - a variety that differs big amount flowers on one plant.
Planting helianthus in the garden
The very name of the sun flower suggests that it loves to grow in well-lit areas. Choose an area with fertile soil for the plant so that there is no need to apply additional fertilizing during the growing season. The plant will feel better if the planting site is protected from harsh gusts of wind, which can break its fragile stem.
Ornamental annual sunflowers are planted from seeds. Seed preparation is very simple:
Dissolve wood ash in 0.5 l of warm water;
soak a piece of cloth with the resulting solution;
wrap sunflower seeds in a cloth;
leave for a day;
if the fabric dries up, moisten it with the same solution.
Seeds need to be planted in the soil to a depth of no more than 3 cm.It is very important to think over the scheme of planting the crop: if the variety is compact, then 30-40 cm between plants will be enough, and if the variety is large, then at least 70 cm.
The first plants can be planted in early May and shoots will appear within a week after planting. Flowering will begin in July and will last until the end of September. Some gardeners, in order to extend the flowering period of the flower bed, plant plants in groups at short intervals in time (about 2 weeks) throughout the summer.
Ornamental sunflower: plant care
Sunny flowers are unpretentious in care. They need:
watering as the soil dries up (it is important to avoid stagnant water) - at least once a week;
loosening the soil;
weed removal.
As the flowering progresses, the flower baskets must be cut off without waiting for the seeds to form - this will stimulate the plant to form new buds and resume the flowering cycle. In addition, removing wilted buds will help maintain the decorative effect of your garden.
If you want to remove the plant completely, then just cut it at the root: digging up one bush, you can inadvertently damage the delicate roots of neighboring, still actively flowering crops.
How to grow a decorative sunflower at home: instructions
At any time of the year, a bright sunny flower will delight you, sitting on the windowsill in warm apartment... The growing process is so simple that many parents are happy to entrust it to their children, who are watching the development of culture with great interest.
So, the first thing to do is choose interesting variety by going to the nearest garden center. Most importantly, do not forget that dwarf varieties are more suitable for home cultivation.
Container selection
To plant a decorative sunflower, purchase a standard flower container, taking into account the height of the future sun flower and the number of plants that you are going to plant:
too small a pot will soon become cramped for the plant and it will have to be transplanted, but the culture does not tolerate transplanting well - so you should not do this;
if the variety is dwarf, a pot for planting with a diameter of 30-40 cm will be optimal;
if you have a special balcony flower box, it is perfect for planting several sunflowers at once;
if you still want to plant a medium-sized sunflower in an apartment (height up to 1.5 m), you will need a large box (from 18 l), for example, one in which vegetables are transported.
Sunflower soil
Disinfect the pot before planting to prevent the development of diseases in the plant. Provide a stand for water drain under the bottom.
Be sure to provide drainage - put pebbles (pebbles, gravel) or pieces of foam plastic on the bottom of the container for planting. Cover the drainage layer with soil mixture (universal soil for flowers). There should be enough soil so that there is still 2-2.5 cm left to the top of the container. Water the soil well.
special crystals can be added to the soil mixture that retain moisture - this will help maintain an optimal moisture balance;
so that the decorative sunflower receives the necessary nutrients, add rotted compost to the soil (1: 1).
Planting and leaving
When the pots are ready, proceed to planting. Seeds are best planted in pairs, when the plants sprout, remove the weaker one. You need to deepen the seed into the soil by 2.5 cm.
Until the seeds germinate, you need to water the soil every 2 days, observing the soil moisture.
Seedlings will be visible in 3-8 days. But if 2 weeks have passed, and the sunflowers have not hatched, they will not sprout.
Place the container with decorative sunflowers in a well-lit place so that the crop receives the sun's rays throughout the day.
Pests and diseases
Sunny flowers are subject to many dangers. Most often they are attacked by moths, barbel and barbel. Pests settle on the culture and eat away the contents of its stem, soon bringing the plant to death. Examine the plant and as soon as you notice the appearance of uninvited guests on them, carry out the treatment with insecticides. One processing session will be enough to eliminate the threat.
Among the bacterial diseases that a culture can contract are rust, downy mildew and brown spot.
Downy mildew. The cause of the onset of the disease can be damage by insect carriers of the infection. Most often these are aphids, scale insects or scale insects. Also, high humidity in the soil or air can contribute to bacterial lesions.
Downy mildew manifests itself as a white bloom on inside leaves, dark spots appear on the outside.
To stop the spread of the disease, remove the most affected areas of the plant, while carefully sterilizing the pruning tools. Then treat the entire planting with special antifungal drugs - fungicides.
If you don't want to apply chemical agents, then use the folk recipe: dissolve 3 g copper sulfate and 25 g of laundry soap in 1 liter of water. Spray plants with this remedy until symptoms disappear (usually after 3-7 days).
Brown spotting (phyllostictosis) for ornamental sunflowers is also a fairly common problem. Moreover, both a sunny flower in the garden and the one that is grown on the windowsill can get sick.
If you notice spots (round or oval) on the stems and leaves of a sunflower, which dry out over time, this is a brown spot.
Phyllostictosis can spread through soil, water, and even be carried by the wind from neighboring diseased plants. The development of the disease occurs rapidly at high air temperatures (above +26 o C) and high humidity.
Sunflower- the flower of the sun, its seeds were brought to Europe from America in the 15th century. Sunflower came to Russia under Peter I and for a long time it was grown as decorative culture, only after a while one peasant through hand press got a delicious golden oil from sunflower seeds. Now sunflower is grown as an oilseed crop on an industrial scale.
Today, the sunflower is back in vogue, it is grown as decorative annual flowers all over the world, and every year more and more varieties and garden forms appear.
The Latin name for sunflower is helianthus (Helinthus) as well as Russian it comes from the Greek words helios - "sun" and anthos - "flower".
Rod Helianthus belongs to the family of Asteraceae or Asteraceae and includes about 50 plant species, native to the American continent.
Both in agriculture and in floriculture, one type is mainly used - this is annual sunflower (Helianthus annuus) from which many varieties have been created, differing in both the size of the plants and the size, shape, color and number of inflorescences on one plant.
Wild sunflower is a plant with a strong, branched stem, about 1 meter high, on which many small inflorescences up to 8 cm in diameter appear, similar to small suns.
Sunflower inflorescences are a basket, inside which there are small tubular flowers, they can be yellow or chestnut in color, and along the edge of the basket there are large language flowers, usually yellow color, they give the flower a crown frame. After flowering, faceted achenes ripen in a sunflower basket, their germination remains up to 2-3 years.
The highest ornamental sunflower varieties grow up to 3-4 meters in height and bear the corresponding names "Russian giant" or "Russian size". They are suitable for creating tall flowering hedges and to hide unsightly places in the garden.
For flower growers, low-growing varieties of helianthus, 40-50 cm high, are more attractive. They are well suited for creating flower arrangements, as well as for growing in pots and small containers.
Sunflower varieties with unusual densely double, pompom inflorescences of a bright yellow color are very popular, there are also red, brown, bright yellow with a dark center.
Sunflower flowers with a two-color petal color look beautiful, when their main part has a beautiful red-brown color, and a bright yellow edging goes along the edges.
The color of modern varieties of heliantos is very diverse, if you associate a sunflower flower with the sun, now you can find flowers with green shades, white, cream, maroon to almost black.
Choose as many varieties of decorative helianthus as possible, differing in stem height, size, shape and color of inflorescences to compose a varied floral arrangement.
Grow an ornamental sunflower even a novice florist can on his flower garden, the main thing is to take into account several conditions when planting and caring for this plant.
It is not for nothing that the sunflower is called the "flower of the sun", because it develops well only in the open sunny place and the inflorescences of plants will be large, brightly colored.
Annual sunflower is a thermophilic crop, therefore it does not tolerate frost. Propagate this annual flower sowing seeds in mid-May. Seeds are sown in holes of 1-2 pieces, depending on the size of the plant, at a distance of up to 40-50 cm.
To get an earlier flowering, sunflowers are grown through seedlings. The seeds are sown in small pots in April, from which at the end of May the young plants are transferred into the ground to a permanent place, trying not to damage the root system, since the sunflower does not tolerate transplantation well.
Miniature low-growing varieties of helianthus are often grown as a pot culture, plants up to 35-40 cm in height are sown in 1.5-2 liter containers with a nutrient mixture. Pots with blooming sunflowers in summer can be arranged in any arrangement.
The soil for growing sunflower is best loose and nutritious. This plant actively draws out a lot of nutrients from the ground, so they feed the flowers two or three times per season. mineral fertilizers, it is not recommended to use fresh manure as fertilizer.
Water the sunflower sparingly, as it does not like excessive moisture. After watering, the soil around the plants should be loosened. Weed and protect against diseases and pests as needed.
The sunflower blooms in July - early August and the inflorescences of the basket will decorate the plants until frost, and in the fall the ripe seeds can be collected for sowing next year or used for food.
Many housewives would like to grow an ornamental sunflower at home, but not everyone knows the intricacies and nuances of planting, growing and caring for this plant. The decorative sunflower differs from a similar oilseed crop not only in its more attractive appearance, but also in the presence of a large number of varieties, and its main purpose is to create unique style in the garden or near the house.
In Europe, the sunflower has been known for more than 500 years, it is constantly admired, songs are composed about it, it is in many paintings by famous artists. To date, breeders have bred over 150 different varieties of ornamental sunflowers, and new varieties and hybrids appear every year. There are tiny decorative flowers, and there are giant plants, the colors can be from pale cream to bright red, uniform and heterogeneous.
Today, decorative sunflower can be found in almost every part of our planet, it is in Europe, America, Japan, and Africa. Not far from Vienna there is a "Sunflower Park", which presents both decorative and oilseed varieties, as well as wild representatives of this genus. The park is very popular with tourists who come to admire this beautiful plant.
Ornamental varieties have gained their popularity due to the variety of shapes and colors, in addition, caring for and growing them is simple and affordable. Depending on your preferences, you can grow varieties in your garden that are no more than 30 cm in height, or those that grow up to 3 or more meters in height, with one or more stems.
You can choose for yourself plants with a stem thickness of up to 5-20 cm, and they will help you hide part of the house or yard that does not look very beautiful, and the variety of colors allows you to choose a plant that organically fits into any exterior.
How to plant correctly?
The ornamental sunflower, like its oil-bearing relative, loves a lot of sun, so planting and cultivation should be carried out in sunny areas of the yard or garden that are protected from the wind, and the soil should be well drained.
Before the seeds are planted in the ground, it is recommended to properly prepare them. The process of seed preparation takes place according to the following plan:
- first, a solution is made from a spoon of wood ash and half a liter of water;
- impregnate a piece with this solution soft tissue which should absorb water well;
- seeds prepared for planting are wrapped in a cloth;
- in this state they are left for a day;
- if during this time the fabric dries up, it must be periodically moistened;
- the seeds are ready for planting.
Sowing an annual ornamental sunflower can be started in May and continued throughout the summer, so this beautiful plant will constantly bloom in your yard.
The depth of planting seeds in the ground should not be more than 3-4 cm, while the distance between neighboring plants, depending on the selected variety, can be 30-70 centimeters. If perennial varieties are cultivated, then in this case reproduction is carried out by dividing the bush, this can be done every 2 years in spring or autumn.
How to care and water?
Ornamental sunflowers are unpretentious plants, therefore, their care is quite simple. To maximize their flowering period, regular watering is essential. Although watering should be abundant, it is impossible for water to stagnate in the soil, as this can lead to the death of the plant.
In addition, caring for this plant consists in the constant weeding of weeds so that they do not interfere with growth, and in periodic loosening of the soil. It is recommended to periodically remove faded flowers, this stimulates the growth of new buds, and the plant will look more attractive.
If you have fertile soil on your site, then the plants need not be fed, they themselves will find all the necessary substances that will ensure normal growth and development. If the soil is not very fertile, then you can feed the flowers using any organic fertilizers, this should be done at the beginning of the growing season.
If you notice the appearance of any pest, you must use the appropriate means of protection to control it. To combat fungi, drugs such as Vectra, Abiga-peak, Strobi are used, which are diluted to the desired consistency and process the entire ground part of the plant.
Among folk remedies, the most effective and often used is a solution of soap and copper sulfate: 3 grams of copper sulfate and 25 grams are taken per liter of water laundry soap, and process the plant. If you see damaged leaves, they must be removed.
If it becomes necessary to remove one of the plants damaged by pests from the site, then you just need to cut off its stem at ground level. If you decide to uproot a diseased plant, you risk damaging the root system near healthy sunflowers growing.
Growing a flower in an apartment
You can grow this plant in a room on a windowsill. This unpretentious flower can be grown even by children who enjoy watching the growth of a decorative sunflower. For growing in a room, you must choose decorative dwarf varieties.
The container is taken taking into account the size of the future plant in such a way that later you do not have to transplant it, since the sunflower does not tolerate transplanting well. For dwarf varieties a pot with a diameter of 30-40 cm is enough.
For planting, use ordinary soil, into which you can add crystals that retain moisture. To provide the plant the required amount nutrients, well-rotted compost is added to the soil 1: 1.
When planting, it is best to plant a couple of seeds, and when shoots appear, the weaker plant must be removed. Before emergence, watering is recommended every two days, while it is necessary to control the moisture content of the soil. Shoots should appear already on day 3-8, if this did not happen after 10-14 days, then they will not sprout anymore.
Since this plant is very fond of sunlight, it must be installed in a place that is well lit.
A little about the types and varieties
If we talk about flower varieties, then annuals are most often grown decorative sunflowers, but there are also perennial varieties, one of them is Jerusalem artichoke, which belongs to this species and is called tuberous sunflower. Its height can reach 3 meters, and tubers are eaten, they have medicinal properties.
Another common perennial species is the ten-petalled sunflower, it has a smaller size: the height is only up to 1.5 meters. Flowering occurs from August to the first frost.
One of the most popular annual plants is "Teddy bear", which is also called "teddy bear". Its distinctive feature is its large flowers, which in their appearance resemble a plush toy - hence the name "teddy bear". It blooms from mid-summer to early autumn, and its height is usually no more than a meter.
"Red Solnyshko" differs from other varieties in flowers that have a red-brown color. One of the largest varieties is "Kong", which can reach heights of 5 meters. This plant has thick stems and wide leaves, so it is often used to create decorative fences.
There are many different varieties and types of sunflowers that vary in size and color. If you decide to grow such a miracle on your site, you can find seeds to your liking and not only enjoy the sight of this plant yourself, but also bring joy to people.
The sunflower is a flower that gives a charge of optimism and love of life due to its bright yellow color of petals and a shape reminiscent of the sun. But besides this, this agricultural crop is a valuable supplier of vegetable oil, rich in antioxidants and vitamins of youth (tocopherol or vitamin E). The full characteristics of the sunflower, presented on this page, will help you get to know the plant better and learn about all of it positive qualities... The article also tells about how to grow a sunflower on your personal plot and get not only lush bloom, but also healthy seeds. The techniques of agricultural technology that allow to grow a rich harvest are given. It is worth starting the study with the question of where to plant a sunflower so that the culture develops as quickly as possible and is filled with a harvest of seeds.
What a sunflower looks like: plant leaves in the photo
Sunflower (Helianthus annus) belongs to the Asteraceae family.
The sunflower comes from North America... it ancient culture... During archaeological excavations, its seeds were found, the age of which was determined to be 2000-3000 years. The "flower of the sun", as the sunflower was called, was worshiped in ancient Mexico, its image was made of gold. Absolutely everyone knows what a sunflower looks like in a blossoming state. But few people are familiar with sunflower leaves, if you think about it, you won't immediately remember their appearance. The head (flower) makes such an unforgettable impression.
Sunflower was brought to Europe from North America. Once in Russia under Peter I, this plant was grown only for decorative purposes for several decades. At present, sunflower has become the main oilseed crop in our country.
Sunflower is widespread in the southern regions of Russia as a field crop, in more northern regions - as a silage crop.
See what a sunflower looks like in a photo of a plant, where the leaves, stem and inflorescences are illustrated:
Where and how are the benefits of sunflower used
Speaking about where sunflower is used, it is worth mentioning that it is interesting to botanists for its curious adaptations to life and, perhaps, is even more interesting to everyone as one of the most useful cultivated plants.
The whole process of improving and creating that cultivated sunflower, which is now known to each of us, took place in our country. Russia can rightfully be called the homeland of the cultivated sunflower. The fact is that in Western Europe, where sunflower seeds were exported from overseas more than once, this plant was bred more often as an ornamental or as a garden ("gnawing culture"). In all these cases, these were branched forms with numerous small baskets of flowers, as they grew in their homeland in the steppes and semi-deserts. Neither the inhabitants of Western Europe, nor the inhabitants of the American prairies have thought of such a discovery as using the sunflower as an oilseed plant. The French in the 19th century began to do this, but for some reason they gave up.
But in Russia in 1779 in the "Akademicheskie Izvestiya" an article "On the preparation of oil from sunflower seeds" was already published. The famous Russian agronomist Bolotov late XVIII for centuries he himself tried to get sunflower oil on his estate. The benefits of the sunflower were enormous, since the crop supplied the farm with useful meal for livestock and aromatic oil of excellent quality.
In the 30s of the last century, the serf peasant Bokarev from the Alekseevka settlement of the Voronezh province began to cultivate sunflowers in his garden, process its seeds on a manual churn and obtain excellent edible oil. Bokarev began selling oil to the side; sunflower crops began to spread, and the plant itself, carefully cultivated on fertile chernozem soil, improved its qualities, reducing the number of flower baskets, but increasing them in size. This is how the cultural golden-yellow “flower of the sun” was created in Russia, in Ukraine.
What is the structure of flowers in a sunflower inflorescence: what features are there
The head or inflorescence of a sunflower - this is well-known the most useful plant- of course, the largest of all the closely familiar colors. A head up to 40 centimeters in diameter is no longer such a rarity, but this is the size of a Victoria flower. However, here we have to make a reservation that Victoria it comes really about one flower, and the head of a sunflower is a whole "inflorescence", a whole "basket", as the botanists say. The structure of a sunflower flower is amazing: in a large head you can count more than a thousand small buds. Small flowers, collected in "baskets", are, of course, not only in sunflowers, but in very many plants, such as chamomile, burdock, dandelion, cornflower, thistle, etc., etc.
To understand what kind of inflorescence a sunflower has, it is best to examine its head at a time when the faded flowers are already falling off along the edges, exposing the seeds that are beginning to ripen. At this time, flowers can be seen at all ages.
What is the result of this color combination? What is the role of each flower in this inflorescence? The main task is to create as much as possible good seeds for sunflower propagation. To make a seed from a flower, it is necessary for the pollen to fall on the stigma of the pistil. The seed will be better if the pollen is taken from another flower or brought from another sunflower.
The transfer of pollen must be carried out by insects. But it may happen that for some reason insects do not do this. In this case, the flower, which did not wait for pollen from the outside, must, as they say, "at worst" produce self-pollination. If outside pollination has already been done, additional self-pollination is useless. If there was no pollination from the outside, then self-pollination gives a seed, although not always quite good. So, each flower faces the following task: one must avoid self-pollination and try to get pollen from the outside, but if this fails, then, in order not to waste it, self-pollination should be done. Let's see how the flowers cope with such a tricky task.
In the very middle, small buds are placed, further - larger buds. These are “children” and “adolescents”. Then the already blossoming flowers begin, from which dark anthers stick out, stuck together like a muff. These are flowers experiencing the male period of their life. They give pollen that spills out into the sleeve. A pistil growing inside the muff — with its stigma still closed and therefore incapable of pollination — pushes the pollen upward. At this time, nectar is already released inside the flower. A bee sucking this nectar will certainly touch the pollen and carry it away.
Farther from the middle of the head there are flowers that have already completed the male period of life and began the female one. The pistils extended above the anthers, the stigmas opened. The nectar continues to stand out. The bee, which has already visited the male flowers and is soiled in pollen, searches the female flowers and, touching the stigmas, produces pollination.
Even farther from the middle of the head, there are even older flowers. The pistils have shortened, the stigmas are wrapped so that they can touch the pollen of their own flower. At this time of the flower's life, self-pollination takes place, if previously there was no pollination from the outside. Now the nectar is no longer secreted; the flower is clogged with dust particles and stigma pressed against each other. A bee, having flown up to such a flower, does not linger, but hurries to younger flowers, where it can eat for the benefit of both itself and the sunflower.
During the life of a flower, the anthers first go up, then go down again. The filaments of the stamens must first be stretched, then shortened. They then straighten, then curl curls. So that there was a place for these curls to fit, a spacious chamber was prudently arranged in the flower, making the flower look like a glass blown out at the bottom. Closer to the edge of the head, the flowers completely wilted and fell off, exposing the "pavement" of seeds sitting in regular rows.
The structure of flowers in a sunflower inflorescence is unique and distinguishes the buds from each other: reed flowers sit in a ring at the very edge of the head. These are sterile flowers that do not produce seeds. They have neither stamens nor pistils. There are only large bright corollas. Their purpose is only to show off; but in this way they serve the common cause. Thanks to these barren flowers, insects from a distance see the dark heads of sunflowers surrounded by golden yellow crowns. But what flowers in a sunflower bring tasty and aromatic seeds are those that are located in the center of the head.
Around the ring of reed flowers is a wrapping ring. These are green leaves, like tiles, superimposed on each other. The wrapper fulfilled its main purpose at a time when the head of the sunflower was still a bud, when the rudiments of flowers had just emerged inside the bud. Then these rudiments were so delicate that it was necessary to protect them from the cold, and from dampness, and from all kinds of pests.
Sunflower inflorescence is one of clearest examples that ingenious adaptation to life that manifests itself in all flora and all over the world of organic nature. This fitness has long represented a mysterious enigma that Darwin found a natural and ingeniously simple solution to.
Sunflower plant: botanical description of the culture
Starting out botanical description sunflower, it is worth noting that this is a well-known field oilseed crop, belongs to the Asteraceae family, it is an annual herb from 1 to 1.25 m in height. It has a tap-branched root. The stem is simple, like the leaves, rough.
Continuing the description of the sunflower culture, let's say that the lower leaves are alternate, petiolate, heart-ovate, and the upper elliptical. In large, petioled, cordate, toothed leaves, the ends are bent outward, along them flows rainwater... Thin streams of such water absorb the sunflower roots. A mass of small lateral roots leaves one main root, which do not go beyond the crown of the leaves.
In the continuation of the description of the sunflower plant, it should be said that its flowers are yellow, apical, collected in a large drooping basket with a diameter of up to 25 cm, which turns towards the sun. The outer flowers are large, yellow, lingual, sterile; inner - tubular, smaller, yellow-brown, bisexual, located along the entire inner surface of the basket. These inflorescences, reminiscent of a radiant sun, provided the sunflower with both a Russian and a scientific name: from the Greek words helios - sun and anthos - flower.
False-lingual bright yellow flowers are located outside the inflorescence, they do not form achenes, but, increasing the surface of the basket, attract insects. The inner tubular flowers are fertile, after their flowering, seeds are formed, seeds known to all, containing oil and other useful substances.
The fruit is an oblong ovoid achene of striped or black color. Blooms in July-August, ripens in August-September.
This plant possesses unique ability turn your head to follow the sun, tracing its entire path from sunrise to sunset.
Sunflower has quite a lot decorative forms: with variegated leaves; double inflorescences, consisting of reed flowers; with double, spherical inflorescences, tubular flowers; varied color of the median flowers (yellow, brown or purple and others).
Currently, many different varieties and hybrids have been bred.
See what a sunflower flower looks like in the photo, where it is shown different shapes cultural development:
The best sunflower varieties: description and photo
Considering the best varieties sunflower, it is worth subdividing them into decorative and agricultural. The description of sunflower varieties presented below will allow you to choose the right planting material for your site.
The flagship belongs to mid-season sunflower varieties: the plant reaches a height of 210 cm. The oil content of seeds is 55–56%. Environmentally stable high-yielding cultivar, resistant to broomrape, false powdery mildew, sunflower moth, phomopsis. If sowing was done on May 15, then harvesting can begin on September 15.
Gourmet- a highly productive mid-season universal variety, which is grown both for oil production and for the confectionery industry, has large seeds with good taste... The variety is resistant to sunflower moth, broomrape, downy mildew, it can be grown in almost all zones, but it is recommended for cultivation in the forest-steppe zone.
Spring- an early medium-yielding sunflower variety. The oil content of the seeds is 53%. The plant is resistant to broomrape, downy mildew. It can be sown until June 15th, and it gives good yields in drought conditions. Distributed in the steppe zone.
Buzuluk- a high-yielding, early undersized variety. The plant is resistant to rot, powdery mildew, dew, phomopsis, and tolerates drought well.
Look at these sunflower varieties in the photo, which demonstrates the strongest qualities of one type or another:
Conditions and features of growing sunflower (with video)
The peculiarities of growing sunflower are that it is planted in a sunny place protected from the wind. Can grow to any garden soil, but most clearly shows its decorative qualities on fertile, light, loose and slightly acidic or neutral soil.
The conditions for growing sunflower are not tricky, and care includes pruning off faded inflorescences so that the plant can continue to bloom. In open, wind-blown areas, you need to tie the stem to the stakes.
The plant is very fond of regular watering, and abundant watering is recommended. It responds well to feeding with complex mineral and organic fertilizers.
Propagated by seeds, which are sown directly into the ground in mid-May, in nests of 2-3 seeds, to a depth of 2-3 cm. Sunflower seedlings appear 6-8 days after sowing. Flowering occurs 75–80 days after germination.
In cultural gardening, both tall and medium and low varieties have been bred.
Watch how sunflower cultivation is carried out in the video, which shows some agricultural techniques:
Sunflower care and cultivation
When planning the proper care of sunflower, it is worth knowing that it can be sown on black soil, chestnut and gray forest soils, while saline, acidic and sandy soils are not suitable for this crop.
The optimum temperature for seed growth is + 20–25 ° C. The plant can withstand frosts down to -6 ° C. This is a light-loving and very demanding crop for nutrients, especially in the first half of plant development.
A field for growing sunflower at proper care and observance of agricultural practices, crops can be used again only after 7-10 years. Good predecessors for this crop will be corn, winter wheat, legumes.
Basic soil preparation depends on the condition of the field. In the fall, before plowing, the field should be processed several times (including stubble cultivation, harrowing, plowing), if there are perennial weeds, and in the spring, harrow and cultivate.
Phosphoric and potash fertilizers bring under the main plowing in the fall, under the spring cultivation - nitrogen fertilizers... Along with sowing, a small portion of the phosphate fertilizer is also applied to the side of the row.
Sunflower should be sown after early spring crops, with an average daily soil temperature of + 10–12 ° C. Before sowing, the seeds must be pickled or treated with microbiological preparations, and then rolled.
Soil herbicides can be applied before sowing or replaced by harrowing before sprouting. To increase the yield in the field, you can take out hives with bees. They start harvesting sunflower when 85% of all baskets turn brown.
The use of medicinal and beneficial properties of sunflower in medicine
It is interesting that the sunflower imported from Mexico to Spain in 1569 and spread throughout Europe for a long time was ornamental plant... Hats and even costumes were decorated with large inflorescences-baskets. Practical use sunflower seeds began after a peasant in the Voronezh province first received sunflower oil from seeds. Later, creameries were built. Currently, sunflower varieties have been developed, the seeds of which contain more than 50% fat.
Medicinal raw materials, which contain beneficial features sunflower, are the marginal flowers and leaves, mature achenes. Flowers are harvested throughout the summer at the beginning of the flowering of a particular plant. The leaves are torn off only green, not damaged by insects or diseases, and the flowers are only bright yellow, and they are pulled out of the baskets without damaging, and immediately dried in a dark room. Leaves are air dried in the shade or in dryers.
The finished raw material - green leaves with petioles up to 3 cm in length, bright yellowish flowers with a honey smell - are stored for 2 years.
The healing properties of sunflower are that the leaves contain resin, rubber, provitamin A (carotene), flowers - glycosides, choline and betaine. The fruit contains a lot of fatty oil. Sunflower oil obtained from the fruits is included in creams, ointments as the main medicinal component or replaces more expensive components. It is used as a laxative, recommended for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis (since it contains unsaturated fatty acids).
V folk medicine flowers and leaves of sunflower are used as a tincture in the treatment of fevers, malaria and as bitterness to improve appetite. Refried sunflower oil is used in the form of oil dressings for the treatment of wounds and burns, as part of a honey and milk drink to soften the throat when coughing. Young sunflower baskets are used to prepare vitamin salads, along with germinated seeds, they help to increase immunity.
Sunflower preparations relax smooth muscles internal organs, lower body temperature, stimulate appetite, have an expectorant effect.
In folk medicine, a decoction of reed flowers is drunk for jaundice, heart disease, bronchial spasms and gastrointestinal colic, for malaria, flu, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract. An alcoholic tincture of reed flowers (and sometimes leaves) is effective for fever and neuralgia. Instead of tincture, you can use a decoction used as a diuretic, as well as a remedy for diarrhea. The oil obtained from sunflower has high nutritional qualities and energy value. It is used as a prophylactic agent for atherosclerosis, which is due to the high content of unsaturated fatty acids in it. Boiled sunflower oil is used as a healing agent for fresh wounds and burns in the form of oil dressings.
Flowers, leaves, fruits and sunflower oil are used in medicine for diseases of the liver and biliary tract. Flowers and leaves are used as an anti-fever remedy, alcohol tincture of them drink for malaria, flu, upper respiratory tract infection. Fresh seeds help with allergies (hives, etc.).
In England, young sunflower baskets are used for making salads.
Sunflower seeds contain a large amount of oil, which includes glycerides of palmitic, stearic, arachidonic, lignoceric, oleic and linoleic acids, up to 19.1% protein, 26.5% carbohydrates, about 2% phytin and 1.5% tannins.
In cosmetology, dry fading skin of the face and hands is treated with warm oil applications.
In traditional medicine they use healing properties sunflower and its marginal flowers, from which an alcoholic tincture is prepared, used for malaria and as a means of stimulating the appetite of patients.
Oil is obtained from the seed kernels, the shell of the fruit (husk) can be used as fuel. Hull ash is rich in mineral salts and can be used as valuable fertilizer, and for technical purposes. Sunflower oilcakes are good feed for feeding animals. In addition, the plant can be used for silage, it is a good honey plant.
Sunflower is the most widespread industrial crop in Russia. Almost all vegetable oil in the Russian Federation they are made from it.
All sunflower varieties can be divided into groups:
- oilseeds with small seeds and large kernels, in which the fat content is from 53 to 63%;
- gnawed with large seeds, the fat content of which is much lower - only 20–35%. Plants are large enough, they are often planted on silage.