Common sunflower
Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) (© Dileep Chandran/Alamy)
Sunflower
The sunflower is an eye-catcher, growing to the sky and reminding us of summer no matter the time of year. Helianthus annuus is native to the Americas, and its flowering head consists of more tiny flowers that mature into seeds that get eaten around the world. Sunflowers are not only pretty, they're tall. Guinness World Records lists the tallest sunflower at 9.17 metres, grown in Germany by Hans-Peter Schiffer. The average sunflower is between 1.5 to 3 metres tall, though there are giant and dwarf varieties too.
© Dileep Chandran/Alamy