A classic summer flower, the sunflower is a great bloom to use in summer bouquets or to grow in your garden. Specifically the annual sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is the flower most people picture when they think of a sunflower. Sunflowers are a favorite for many people because of their beautiful range of colors, showy size and generally happy (and sunshine-y!) appearance.
Sunflowers are great in flower arrangements because they are large and showy, but also because they are hearty with thick stems that stand up well in a vase.
Sunflowers, even within the single classification of Helianthus annuus show a wide variety of colors, shapes and uses. A sunflower can range from the bright, cheerful yellow that is most commonly recognized, to chocolate brown and even purple shades. In addition to a wide variation in color, sunflowers are also recognizable for their potential to grow very large – up to 20 feet tall and with a bloom over two feet in diameter, according to Gardeners Net.
Below are a few examples of the many colors and shapes of sunflowers. When planning a summer bouquet of sunflowers or event request with your florist, you might ask what varieties of sunflowers they can get from their flower providers.
A bouquet of sunflowers in a variety of colors shows the great range available.
Two varieties of sunflower. Left: Moulin Rouge, a red sunflower. Right: Tokohuyae, a double flowering sunflower
Two more varieties of sunflower. Left: Ring of Fire, a bi-color sunflower.
Right: Teddy Bear, a compact double flowering sunflower with no ‘eye’.
Being native to Central American and found wild as far north as Tennessee in the USA, the sunflower is obviously a hearty plant that can be grown easily with moderate care. Sunflowers usually bloom in late summer, so expect to have flowers starting mid-July or later and often lasting until September. Growing instructions will vary somewhat based on the type and size of seed you choose to plant, so turn to resources like Burpee or other seed companies.
Sunflowers have a very special property called heliotropism, which just means that as it grows, the sunflower turns its face to the sun throughout the day. In the morning, the sunflower’s bud faces east to catch the rays of the rising sun and by nightfall, the bloom is facing west to capture the last sunshine as the sun sets.
Tomorrow is Canada’s celebration of their country and their culture – to highlight this, we thought we’d highlight Canada through their floral emblems.
Canada is a country with many regions and a blending of many sub-cultures that make their country so rich in heritage, from the First Peoples to French Canadian and British Canadian histories, they’ve got a lot to celebrate. So it seems right that Canada doesn’t name a specific flower as their national bloom – instead the country recognizes an emblematic flower for each province and territory in their union.
Provinces:
Alberta –Wild Rose
Image source Wikimedia Commons via Silberchen
British Columbia – Pacific Dogwood
Image source Walter Siegmund via Wikimedia Commons
Manitoba – Prairie Crocus
Image source: Noricum via Flickr
New Brunswick – Purple Violet
Image source: Bo Gordy-Stith via Wikimedia Commons
Newfoundland and Labrador – Pitcher Plant
Image source: Lisa Norwood via Flickr
Nova Scotia – Mayflower
Image source: Sandy Richard via Flickr
Ontario – White Trillium
Image source: Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Prince Edward Island – Lady’s Slipper
Image Source: FruitFly7 via Wikimedia Commons
Quebec – Blue Flag
Image source: Versicolor via Flickr
Saskatchewan – Western Red Lily
Image source: Darm Crook via Wikimedia Commons
Gardeners have always known something that took science some time to figure out- larkspur and delphinium are not the same! Very close cousins, these two flowers may look alike but they are actually different geni (genuses? genii?… you know what I mean!). 
Delphinium and larkspur both make beautiful cut flowers and they’re great for adding height to arrangements because of their sturdy stem, perfect for displaying the string of blooms they feature. Larkspur got their name from being compared to a lark’s foot because of their unique pointed shape at the back of the flower. Delphinium, on the other hand, comes from the Latin word for dolphin, according to Wikipedia, because of the shape of the flower as it opens.
While these flowers have some overlap in their color ranges with pink, lavender, purple and white available in each, larkspur is the more colorful cousin, with a wider range of shades. Larkspur is even available with bi-color blooms. Delphinium is unique, however, in that it produces ones of nature’s only truely blue flowers.
For those who garden, you’ll be interested to know that the agriculture experts at the University of Arkansas say that, while delphinium has a reputation as being difficult to grow, larkspur is quite easy.
One major difference, however – most species of Delphinium are perennial, blooming every year without being re-planted. Larkspur (Consolida by scientific name) are annuals (and have sometimes even been called ‘annual Delphinium’), though the most common species, Rocket Larkspur (Consolida regalis) does re-seed easily for planting year after year.
It’s always hard to get back in the groove after a long holiday weekend. If you feel sluggish this week, perk up with flowers. I particularly love delphinium, which is the birth flower for July.
It’s also known as larkspur, lark’s heel, lark’s claw and knight’s spur, but no matter what you call it, this gorgeous blossom will make any bouquet more beautiful. It’s also a favorite with English gardeners.
Here are five quick facts about the flower:
• The name comes from the Greek word “delphis,” meaning dolphin.
• It’s said to symbolize an open heart and ardent attachment.
• It’s poisonous and should never be eaten or used in foods.
• Blossoms are typically blue or purple but can also be red, white, and yellow. They are also available in a range of sizes.
• To grow theses classic summer blooms in your garden, they need full sun, well drained soil and protection from high winds.
