Today I’m sharing a simple photo of a beautiful blooming Sunflower volunteer that popped up on its own, grew, and bloomed without any planning.
Blooming Sunflower volunteer in Arkansas – Canon R7, handheld, f9, 1/160, ISO 1600, -0.7 EV, Canon EF 100-400mm II at 400mm, natural light
Sunflowers are from the genus Helianthus, and this one likely grew from seeds that spilled out of the bird feeder. Some sunflowers are native to North America, and this one is probably a cultivar of one of the wild species.
When someone says a plant is cultivated, they mean it was grown on purpose by people, usually for food, beauty, or other uses. It didn’t just grow wild on its own.
A cultivar is short for “cultivated variety.” It means the plant was specially bred by people to have certain traits, like brighter flowers, bigger fruit, or a specific shape or color. So instead of being a wild plant, it’s a version people have helped shape through growing and selecting it over time.
Sunflowers are grown commercially for a bunch of different reasons. The biggest one is sunflower oil.
They are also grown for birdseed. Black oil sunflower seeds are a favorite for backyard birds. Striped sunflower seeds are the kind you usually see sold as snacks for people, roasted and salted or sometimes flavored.
Sunflowers are also grown just for their looks. Some varieties are meant for cut flowers or to brighten up gardens. And farmers sometimes plant them to help pollinators or use them as a cover crop to improve soil health.
They are tough, versatile, and good-looking, which is probably why I like them so much.
I’m hoping this bloom gets pollinated. I’d really like to see what the seeds look like later in the year.
By the way, I called this blooming sunflower a “volunteer” because it grew on its own without any planting or planning from anyone.
Volunteer plants pop up naturally from seeds that were dropped or left behind, often by birds or previous plants. They show up where you didn’t put them, doing their own thing, and that’s exactly what happened with this sunflower.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my wildflower, shrub and tree photos.
What a delightful surprise! My next-door neighbor plants sunflowers and I keep hoping for a volunteer. 🙂
“They are tough, versatile, and good-looking, which is probably why I like them so much.” Probably why I like your blog – done by a tough, versatile and good photographer.