Wild Native Sunflower

Wild Native Sunflower was adopted as the state flower in 1903.  The sunflower is found on the state flag and also gave Kansas its nickname of The Sunflower State. The Helianthus or Wild Native grow very well in the hot, dry Kansas summers. They grow in fields and along roads. Chickens and wild birds enjoy the seeds and bees get honey from the sunflower. Some varieties of sunflowers have large striped seeds, which are roasted for snack food or blended with other grains to make birdseed. Special oilseed varieties produce small black seeds that contain up to 50 per cent oil. Sunflower oil is the world's third most important vegetable oil. Sunflower oil is sometimes used as a replacement for diesel fuel.

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