I believe that sunflowers are one of the most under-appreciated garden plants. Of course, I should probably mention that sunflowers are absolutely one of my all-time favorite plants—I've had framed pictures of sunflowers hanging on walls everywhere I've lived since college, I've grown them as long as I can remember, and my purse even has sunflowers on it.
But I don't just love sunflowers because they're beautiful. In fact, they're incredibly useful for a wide variety of reasons. Let's talk about a few of them.
Sunflowers Are Good For Soil Health
Did you know that sunflowers can help improve your soil health? This characteristic is especially interesting for those of us who are interested in regenerative agriculture. Since a key component of regenerative agriculture is improving soil health (without jeopardizing other parts of the ecosystem), sunflowers provide a natural, healthy way to increase soil fertility.
Sunflowers send out long taproots deep into the soil. These long taproots help to break up compacted soil, improving drainage and aeration. They can also draw up nutrients in the soil, making them more available to plant roots near the surface.
Sunflowers' deep roots also create pathways for beneficial insects, such as earthworms, to travel through the soil. The earthworms then leave behind valuable organic matter that will feed plants for years to come.
Interestingly enough, sunflowers can also help purify your soil. They are phytoremediators, which just means they can absorb harmful chemicals from the soil. If you live in an area with lots of heavy metals in the soil—such as copper, lead, or arsenic—planting sunflowers will reduce the soil's toxicity over time.
Sunflowers Provide Food For Pollinators
Pollinators are disappearing at an alarming rate. According to a United Nations report, 40% of invertebrate pollinators (such as bees, moths, and butterflies) and 16.5% of vertebrate pollinators (mainly birds and bats) are at risk of extinction.
Why is that a big deal? Well, to put it frankly, the human race cannot survive without pollinators. 80% of the crops grown around the world are entirely dependent on pollination. Without pollinators, there would be no food.
An increase in pesticide use is partially to blame for the frightening decline in pollinators. That's one of the many reasons we are practicing regenerative agriculture at Meadow View Ranch—we're doing our best to improve the ecosystem, rather than destroy it.
By adding sunflowers to your garden, you'll provide food the pollinators so desperately need. Honeybees are sunflowers' most common visitors, but other invertebrate pollinators, such as butterflies and hoverflies, will also gladly frequent them.
And of course, birds love to snack on sunflower seeds. After providing nourishment for the birds, the seeds will make their way back to the ground, where they'll continue the regenerative cycle once again. Our ducks love having sunflowers in their free-range areas; every day I find them happily snacking on the leaves, seeds, and petals.
Sunflowers Are Nutritious For People, Too
One of my favorite parts about sunflowers is that they are beautiful and tasty. While most garden plants like tomatoes and peas are nutritious and easy to grow, they don't produce dazzling flowers. Sunflowers, on the other hand, are just as nice to look at as they are to eat.
I could devote an entire article to the health benefits of eating sunflower seeds, but here are a few quick facts about why adding them to your diet is a fantastic idea:
They are packed with nutrients like niacin, amino acids, and vitamins A, B, C, and E
They provide ample amounts of magnesium, iron, and calcium
They have antifungal and antibacterial properties
According to this study, they may help with hypertension, arterial disease, cancer, and strokes
They can help lower cholesterol levels
They are a great source of protein and fatty acids
Sunflower seeds can be prepared so many different ways; my personal favorite is combining them with fresh greens from our garden to make a delectable salad. I also love snacking on them during road trips.
Sunflowers Are Beautiful And Hardy
Of course, we all know how beautiful sunflowers are. With more than 70 varieties, you're sure to find a unique sunflower that matches your style. And they come in many sizes, too—from the 'elf' variety that grows just 16 inches tall to the 'giraffe' variety that can reach a staggering 17 feet tall. Do you want pink, purple, red, or orange sunflowers? There are plenty of those, too.
Sunflowers aren't just beautiful; they're also hardy. While not all varieties are perennials, they almost always re-seed themselves and come back stronger with every passing year.
They can also grow in a variety of conditions. You don't even need to have a garden to successfully grow sunflowers (though, as we discussed earlier, they'll do a great job of improving your garden soil for future plants).
In fact, the sunflowers we have at Meadow View Ranch this year are all growing wild around the property. I suspect the previous owner planted a few seeds in a flower bed years ago and the pollinators and wind have helped them spread all around our yard.
You can grow sunflowers very successfully in flower beds or even in pots. They need to be grown in a large pot to accommodate their size, but with regular watering and plenty of sunshine, potted sunflowers will thrive.
Sunflowers Are Garden Superstars
As you can see, sunflowers have a lot to offer your garden. Whether you're trying to improve your soil health, increase the pollinator population, grow tasty and nutritious food, or just grow some beautiful flowers to enjoy all summer long, sunflowers are the perfect choice.
To me, sunflowers are one of the most beautiful parts of summer. They've vibrant, resilient, and resolute. No matter what's happening around them, sunflowers diligently push their way through the soil, steadily grow toward the sun, and shine brightly for all to see. Their persistence and patience remind me to continue to cultivate those same qualities within myself.
If you've never grown sunflowers, I hope this encourages you to give it a try. The soil, the bees, and your soul will thank you.
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