The holiday season is officially upon us and with it the general ambiance it brings. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because of the general attitude surrounding it. I have always felt Thanksgiving has kept to its’ roots and has not sold out to the commercial side of the world, though Black Friday is encroaching more and more. I want this weeks Plant of the Week to reflect Thanksgiving and what it means to the Eagleson family. The plant I want to discuss is warm, cheerful, inviting and most importantly edible!  Let’s delve into this weeks plant, the Sunflower!

The Sunflower is a magnificent annual bloom that screams positive vibes in a landscape. This American native has large blooms that are grown for their beauty as well as their seed. Their bright yellow flowers will catch the eye of anyone passing by and will give your landscape an instant wow factor. Sunflowers are tall, some reaching up to 16 feet, making them great to accent a spot, to fill backdrop in a garden or to use along a fence line.  Being very low maintenance, easy to grow and drought resistant, the Sunflower is a no brainer for full sun landscapes or vegetable gardens looking for a colorful boost and some height.

Sunflowers are great for attracting birds and honeybees and make great cut flowers to brighten your home.  The seeds are also very healthy and yummy, if you can get any before the birds take them!  You can read more about this incredible American native here and here!