Why did settlers plant sunflowers?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
April 28, 2003
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Suggested Reading—>Click here.
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Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus Linnaeus) were curiosities in Europe in the sixteenth century. In 1597, John Gerard commented "The Indian Sun or golden floure of Peru is a plant of such stature and talnesse that in one Sommer being sowne of a seede in Aprill, it hath risen up to...fourteene foot in my garden, one floure was in weight three pound and two ounces, and crosse overthwart the floure by measure sixteene inches broad."
American plants were viewed with suspicion but Gerard had experimented "...notwithstanding we have found by triall, that the buds...boiled and eaten with butter, vinegar, and pepper...are exceeding pleasant meat, surpassing the Artichoke far in procuring bodily lust." (The Herbal, 1633 edition)
In the Americas, cultivation of the sunflower almost ceased; the plant was considered a weed. Native American lore about the plants was lost, but still settlers had uses that they probably learned from natives.
The flowers were a source of yellow dye and the leaves a dark dye. The seeds were eaten and could be pounded into flour. In 1892, Charles F. Millspaugh reported "The white central pith of the stalk contains nitre (potassium nitrate?), this fact has led to its use as a diuretic, and recommended also as a form of moxa (a wound dressing to staunch bleeding).
Sunflowers were not of interest to American chemists or doctors. The plants have a strong turpentine odor and Millspaugh reported the common settler belief, "How much a fact it may be that a growth of this plant about a dwelling protects the inhabitants against malarial influences is not yet proven, though strongly asserted by many." (American Medicinal Plants, reprinted 1974, Dover Publications)
The Chelsea Physic Garden in London has a great close-up photograph of an unopened inflorescence of a sunflower, perhaps the size that would have been cooked and eaten in Gerard's day. To view the photograph, click on the link:
http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/images/sunflower.jpg
Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 | | 4 |
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
Why did Mennonites plant sunflowers? Plants that Changed History - May 13, 2003
How does hoarding benefit sunflowers? Weird Plants - May 8, 2003
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Plant of the Week - January 23, 2006
How does the sunflower track the sun? Weird Plants - May 1, 2003
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Plant of the Week - April 28, 2003
What crop grows best irrigated with sea water? Weird Plants - June 13, 2002
Unique Gardens
Springhill Nursery®
Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you.
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Maximillian Sunflower
Springhill Nursery®
Helianthus maximilliani—Makes a bold statement wherever it is planted! Strong, 4-7' tall stems are covered with dozens of sunny yellow, 2-3" blooms from midsummer to frost.
A favorite of birds and butterflies! Long-lived plants thrive in heat, drought and even poor soil. A natural for cutting.
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Heliopsis, Summer Sun
Springhill Nursery®
Summer Sun Heliopsis plants are loaded with dozens of orange-yellow, double flowers with green hearts. Blooms from midsummer until frost. With daisy like charm, bushy plants send up floral sunbursts on 3-4’ stems that need no staking. Showy, disease free. Space plants 8-12” apart.
#1 Field-Grown Plants. Heliopsis helianthoides var. 'Summer Sun' Zone 4 to 9
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Lemon Queen Sunflower
Springhill Nursery®
This lovely, long-lived perennial will reign supreme at the back of your sunny border as well as in casual arrangements. Big, 4-5' tall plants are covered with soft yellow, 2" daisylike flowers from early summer to frost. Plant 36-48" apart.
#1 Field-grown plants. Helianthus 'Lemon Queen'
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Black Eyed Susan
Springhill Nursery®
Multitudes of large, golden, daisylike flowers with glistening black centers start blooming in midsummer. These Black-Eyed Susans are one of the few perennials to remain in bloom until frost stops them. Hardy, easily grown plants multiply fast, reach 18-30" tall. Plant 12-16" apart.
#1 Field-Grown Plant. Deer tend to avoid. Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa Zone 4 to 9
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Rudbeckia 'Prairie Sun'
Springhill Nursery®
You'll delight in these daisy like blooms from midsummer till frost. An eye-catching green "cone" center is ringed by bright yellow petals with sun-kissed, pale yellow tips. Rudbeckia 'Prairie Sun' are great addition to cut-flower bouquets. Weather-resistant plants with sturdy, upright stems grow 24-32" tall. Space 18-24" apart.
Shipped in 3" pot. Deer tend to avoid. Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun' Zone 4 to 10
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Rudbeckia Toto
Springhill Nursery®
Classic Black-eyed Susan form, but with jumbo, 3-5" blooms on plants just 6-10" tall! Resistant to harsh weather, Rudbeckia Toto flowers from early summer to frost, giving you plenty of high quality blooms for cutting.
Diminutive plants spread 8-12", just right for containers, borders and rock gardens.
Shipped in 3" pot. Deer tend to avoid. Rudbeckia hirta 'Toto' Zone 4 to 9
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Summer of Love Daisy Collection
Springhill Nursery®
Spring Hill’s Summer of Love Daisy Collection lets you feel that love again and again for years in your own peaceful garden. Our growers have selected four super groovy varieties of daisylike flowers that shine like a country morning – pretty pink ‘Magnus’ Coneflower, powerful ‘Goldsturm’ Black-eyed Susan, pure white ‘Alba’ Coneflower and brilliant blue ‘Wonder of Staffa’ Aster.
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The Summer of Love Collection includes three each of these four different varieties:
PINK CONEFLOWER ‘MAGNUS’ – 1998 Perennial Plant of the Year and a must for the late summer garden. Drought-resistant, long- lasting blooms hold their rosy pink petals outright (won’t droop the way other coneflowers do). The central cone is deep maroon in color. Newer blooms are more intense in color, then lighten to a pale pink – a great show! Blooms from July until frost. 2-4” tall clumps. Hardy, carefree. Space 18-24” apart. Zone 3 to 8.
WHITE CONEFLOWER ‘ALBA’ – Pure white ray petals reflex downward away from the greenish-brown, spiky cone – the classic cone flower form. Strong stems bear the lightly scented, 6+ inch blooms 30-36” in the air. Flowers in mid to late summer. Wonderful in both fresh and dry arrangements. Space 15-18” apart. Zone 3 to 8.
BLACK EYED SUSAN ‘GOLDSTURM’ – The Perennial Plant Association’s 1999 Perennial Plant of the Year. Multitudes of large, daisylike blooms with glistening black centers and golden, ray-like petals 1-2” long. Starts blooming in midsummer and keeps it up all the way to the first frost. Hardy, easily grown plants multiply fast, reach 18-30” tall. You’ll love the carpet-like effect as lots of densely packed blooms grow to a uniform height. Plant 18-24: apart. Zone 4 to 9.
ASTER ‘WONDER OF STAFFA’ – Named for the town of Staffa, Switzerland, where it was developed, this hardy aster provides lavender-blue, daisylike flowers that bloom nonstop from midsummer till fall frost. One of the all-time best performing Aster varieties. Splendid for beds, borders, bouquets where it will blend well with other flower colors. Grows 18-24” tall with a similar spread. Space 18-24” apart. Zone 5 to 9.
FREE GIFT -CRAZY DAISY – A delightful new variety of Shasta daisy bred in Germany. ‘Crazy’ shows off a fountain of large (2”), white double flowers with quilled and feathery petals. A wonderful frilly look! Strong and long-lived, it requires little care and will provide masses of flowers during summer. Grows to a bushy 24-28” high with similar spread. You get three of them, a $24.99 value, FREE! Space 12-18” apart. Zone 5 to 9.
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