Celebrating happiness is what we do. So, it makes perfect sense to celebrate the first Saturday in August as National Sunflower Day. Join us all day as we spread joy about the happiest flower on earth.
Sunflowers are said to be a symbol of adoration, loyalty, and longevity. Their bright yellow color is a sign of happiness, friendship, and intelligence. Much like the sun, sunflowers mirror vibrancy and give off an energy of life. National Sunflower Day reminds us to show our inner sunshine, while taking the opportunity to share one of the earth’s most beautiful flowers.
Historically, sunflowers have been around since about 1000 BC. Native Americans used sunflowers as a valuable food source, oil, paint, textile, and during ceremonies. Interestingly, some archaeologists believe sunflowers may have been cultivated before corn. Today, sunflowers are still being used as a source of food, oils, and beauty treatments.
7 Sunflower Uses
- Cooking oil
- Sunflower seeds
- Salad mixes
- Tea
- Medicinal purposes
- Skin care
- Crafts
The U.S. is a massive producer of sunflowers. In fact, this bright, beautiful flower is a major crop in both North Dakota and South Dakota. In 2022, North Dakota produced 762 billion pounds of sunflowers. With the average height of a sunflower being five to six feet tall, a sunflower head can grow bigger than an human head. As the weight of the sunflower head becomes heavy, it begins to fall forward causing the petals to fall off. Shortly after the petals fall off, harvest begins on the sunflower. On average, one sunflower can produce up to 2,000 sunflower seeds per head!
Sunny Days
Sunflowers are a unique flower. Though many flowers are known to look for the sun for nutrients, the size of the sunflower presents an opportunity to visually see how it follows the sun movements throughout the day. During early mornings, sunflowers can be seen sort of in a sleep position slightly bent downwards. However, as the sun begins to shine, they slowly find the bright sun to face their growing day. Interestingly, the sunflower tends to face east, avoiding the hot sun. Scientists assume it is a natural defense of the sunflower to avoid the hot sun. Sunflower enthusiasts assume their perfect flower is not only the happiest flower, but also the most intelligent, too.
August is considered the peak growing season for sunflowers, which is why National Sunflower Day is a perfect time to experience the beauty of vast fields of golden awe. Brilliant fields of yellow flowers welcoming the morning sun can be found throughout North Dakota. In fact, seeing fields of sunflowers blanket the earth will lift the spirits of those witnessing this amazing wonder of breathtaking beauty.
FOUNDING NATIONAL SUNFLOWER DAY
The National Sunflower Association and North Dakota Tourism introduced the idea to create National Sunflower Day in 2022. After forming a partnership, National Sunflower Day became reality in 2023. Each year on the first Saturday in August, we intend to spread joy about the happiest flower on earth during National Sunflower Day. This collaboration is a special effort help spread the word about the agricultural giant North Dakota is in growing sunflowers, and especially to promote happiness.
A partnership between the National Sunflower Association and North Dakota Tourism gives anyone who visits the state a chance to see the thousands of acres of fields every year in late summer with their Sunflower Map. This map includes exact coordinates of sunflower fields across the state and weekly updates from the farmers who cultivate them on how the bloom is going. Visitors can time their visits when the fields are at their most beautiful. Some of the fields even include a sunflower mailbox full of free and locally grown and processed sunflower seeds.
FOLLOW THE SUN
- Take a drive to view fields of sunflowers to see their true beauty in mass.
- Give a bouquet of sunflowers to a friend to brighten their day.
- Add sunflower petals and seeds to your salad.
- Plan a road trip to North Dakota in August and coordinate places to stop to visit sunflower fields and get updates from local farmers who cultivate sunflowers.
- Share your photos on sunflowers on social media using #NationalSunflowerDay.
