Common sunflower (*Helianthus annuus*) with a large yellow flower head.

Common sunflower (*Helianthus annuus*).

Creator: Vengolis

Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0

View image source

Species record

Common Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Explore the Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

Common sunflower is a tall annual herb native to North America and cultivated worldwide for its edible seeds and oil. Its large head is made from many small florets.

Classification in this archive

  1. Kingdom: Plantae
  2. Phylum: Tracheophyta
  3. Class: Magnoliopsida
  4. Order: Asterales
  5. Family: Asteraceae
  6. Genus: Helianthus
  7. Species: Helianthus annuus

Habitat and distribution

Selected documented locations — not a complete species range.

Habitat
grassland, prairie, cultivated fields, gardens
Selected regions
North America
Selected countries
Canada, Mexico, United States

Conservation status

Conservation status not recorded.

Did you know?

  • The familiar sunflower head is a cluster of many individual flowers packed together.
  • Sunflower seeds provide food for people and wildlife, while the flower heads attract pollinating insects.

More images

Common sunflower (*Helianthus annuus*) with its seed-producing flower head.

Common sunflower (*Helianthus annuus*), showing the central disc where the mature seeds develop.

Creator: Rizki Candra Nurani

Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0

View image source

Sources and attribution