Native Americans used red, black, white, and black-and-white seeds to create the first single-headed blooming sunflower, according to the National Sunflower Association. Indians in Arizona and New Mexico cultivated the first seeds and resulting flowers in 3000 B.C.
Spanish explorers took the sunflowers to Europe in the 1500s. By 1716, a patent was granted for the process of squeezing sunflower oil from the seeds.
Russian immigrants brought giant sunflower seeds to America. In 1880, seed companies began selling these seeds under the label "Mammoth Russian" in catalogs.
During Russia's early history, when czars ruled, the Russian military used sunflower seeds to fortify their troops. Russian soldiers ate 2 lbs. of sunflower seeds per day as part of their food allotment.