My Genius Hour Project
How do sunflowers grow so tall?
How Sunflowers Grow:
- Seed sprouts
- Taproot grows down 6 feet
- Many roots grow out from base of stem
- After 30 days develops flower bud
- Stem gets woody
- 3 weeks later disc is created
- 1 week later, florets bloom across
- Bees pollinate
- 1 week later florets drop
- Central core develops seeds
- Take 30 days to ripen
- Seeds fall or get eaten
- Sunflower stops growth
- Dies when temps. drop below 28 degrees
Sunflowers in History:
- Sunflowers were an inspiration to the artist Vincent Van Gogh
- Sunflowers have been harvested by many cultures for at least 4,500 years
- Native to America - cultivated by Native Americans
- Were sent to Europe, but not eaten by Europeans until many years later
- Have been used medicinally
Fun Facts about Sunflowers
- They track the sun
- They are made up of thousands of smaller flowers
- The world's tallest grew over 30 feet tall!
- They have traveled to space
- They can be used as scrubbing pads