Common sunflower
The sunflower, or formerly Helianthus annuus, is a large annual plant belonging to the Asteraceae (Compositae) family, whose flowers are grouped in large flower heads. The Helianthus genus comprises around fifty species, all native to North America, including the Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.).
This plant is widely cultivated for its seeds, which are rich in high-quality edible oil (around 40 % of their composition). Along with rapeseed andolive, sunflower is one of the three main sources of edible oil in Europe.
There are many vernacular names or expressions for it : grand-soleil, soleil des jardins, soleil commun, graine à parroquet, hélianthe...()
Choice of varieties
Terres Inovia has drawn up a list of recommended sunflower varieties for sowing in 2022, which you can consult here.
Crop guide
Terres Inovia has also produced a crop guide for 2022, which can be accessed via this link.
