A sunflower is a tall plant famous for its huge, bright yellow flower head that can grow as wide as a dinner plate. The flower gets its name because it looks like a golden sun, with a dark brown center surrounded by cheerful yellow petals that radiate outward like sun rays.

Sunflowers have a fascinating trait: young sunflower buds track the sun across the sky during the day, turning from east to west as the sun moves. Scientists call this heliotropism. Once the flower matures and opens fully, it usually faces east to catch the morning sunlight.

The center of a sunflower contains hundreds of tiny seeds arranged in a mesmerizing spiral pattern. These seeds become the sunflower seeds people eat as snacks or press to make cooking oil. Wild birds love sunflower seeds too, which is why many people plant sunflowers in their gardens to attract cardinals, finches, and other songbirds.

Sunflowers originated in North America and can grow over ten feet tall, with thick stalks strong enough to support those massive flower heads. Farmers plant vast fields of sunflowers, creating spectacular golden landscapes that look like seas of sunshine stretching to the horizon.