How to Identify the Species of Sunflower

Although most paintings and pictures depicting sunflowers seem to focus on one type of flower, there are actually more than 80 different types of sunflowers. Some produce oil and some do not, some are annual and some are perennial. Some are highly desirable and some can become invasive pests when allowed to grow unchecked. There are some guidelines for determining the type of sunflower, and with varieties within each species it can take several steps to properly identify just what kind of sunflower is coming up in the garden.

Instructions

- 1
  
  Become familiar with the size and shape of the annual sunflower as a guide to the rest of the sunflower family. This common sunflower is the one most commonly seen throughout the world; stems can be between 3 and 9 feet tall, while the flowers themselves are between 3 and 5 inches across. Leaves are ovate and slightly longer than the flowers are wide. Flowers look like large daisies, with a brown center and yellow petals around the outside. Behind the flower are a series of tough green bracts.
- 2
  Take into account the size of the fully grown plant. Both annual and perennial sunflowers can reach several feet in height, but if the fully grown plant is only between 1 foot to 1 1/2 foot tall, then the sunflower is a species of dwarf sunflower. The Sunny Smile is one of the common varieties of dwarf sunflowers, which can be grown outside or as a houseplant.
- 3
  Look at the size of the flowers. If the daisy-like heads are relatively small -- no more than 3 inches across -- the flower is most likely one of the types of perennial sunflowers. These types have smaller flowers and more leaves than on the tall, thick stalks of the annuals. Some have distinctively shaped flowers; the blooms of the Flore-pleno resemble mums and lack the center of other types of sunflowers. The stems of the prairie sunflower can reach heights of up to 10 feet, while swamp sunflowers have a flat face.
- 4
  Look at the color of the petals on the sunflower. The Vanilla Ice variety has the traditional brown center but distinctive white petals. The Moonshadow is a very, very pale yellow that borders on white, while the Claret has deep red petals.
- 5
  Look at the pattern on the petals of the sunflower. Some varieties have a tie-dyed appearance, and this will help determine what kind of flower it is. The Velvet Queen is one of the most distinctive types of patterned sunflowers, with yellow, orange and red petals.

What Is a Flower Bond?

What Is the Size of an Orange Lily?

Flower Basics