The first and most obvious meaning of the sunflower is related to the obvious physical characteristics of the flower, its resemblance to the bright sun. The sunflower is the flower of the solar being, of cheerfulness and vivacity. Let’s think about its colors: the golden yellow that fades into the orange of its petals, the dark orange or brown of the central part, the green of its large leaves and its bust. There is no doubt that if someone gives you a sunflower, he certainly wants to underline your joyful and cheerful character and the smile with which you face life.
Moreover, as we know, the sunflower, due to the phenomenon known as heliotropism, turns its flower head (inflorescence) towards the sun, following it throughout the day from east to west. This particular aspect can translate into a desire to spend a certain period of time, a whole day or even a lifetime with a loved one (or a dear friend). Just as the sunflower follows the sun in its daily movement, the giver of the flower wants to follow, stay with the loved one for an important time in their life. One way people harness the energy of this stunning flower is with wearing a beautiful sunflower necklace that is available in our store.
The sunflower can also express a deep sense of admiration, respect, and gratitude. This certainly applies to people but also to nature itself. For some time now, the sunflower has been used by ecological associations and movements as a symbol to promote respect for nature and the environment. Already Vincent Van Gogh, the great Dutch painter who painted sunflowers in many of his famous pictures, wanted to convey not only his ideal of love between lovers through the image of the sunflower (explosive vitality), but also the love and admiration he felt for Nature itself.
Long before the pre-Columbian civilizations that celebrated the Sun God by decorating their temples with sunflowers, Greek mythology, through Ovid’s Metamorphoses, tells the story of the nymph Clizia, the god Apollo and the sunflower. According to the myth, Apollo, as the god of the sun, crossed the sky with his chariot of fire while the loving nymph Clizia followed him constantly with her eyes. Thus, Apollo, uninterested in the love of the beautiful nymph Clizia, transformed her after nine days into a sunflower. Therefore, on the one hand, the sunflower can signify a deep attachment to another person, as a symbol of constancy, dedication and absolute fidelity, and if you want to share these symbols you can wear a sunflower ring in your every day life. On the other hand, it can also underline an unrequited love (following the story of the Greek myth) and, depending on the circumstances.
All of us have at least once observed with amazement the fields where sunflowers grow. We have admired their height, which normally exceeds one meter and even almost two meters, the elegant, proud and even a little superb way with which the plant stands upright at its midday peak. For this reason, the sunflower can easily be given as a gift on several occasions when one wishes to celebrate a success, a victory, a milestone reached (a diploma, a promotion, a victory in a sporting competition), an example of a gift would be a sunflower bracelet. But be careful in choosing the recipient! If you offer a sunflower to your boss, who is notorious for pride and hubris, he or she might read into your gesture a desire to highlight these small flaws.
Meaning of the sunflower
We’ve seen some of the more curious meanings and implications this flower can have, but as we’ve pointed out, much of the symbolism of this flower is due to its very botanical characteristics. The color is above all a striking aspect that immediately radiates joy and sunshine to those who look at this flower.
It is therefore no coincidence that many painters have chosen the sunflower as a symbolic flower for many paintings. One of the most famous, also known to those who do not know much about painting, is certainly Van Gogh who painted some of the most beautiful sunflowers in history.
The heliotropism of this flower is another very appreciated and symbolic aspect of this flower, which follows the sun throughout the day. These are all special and unique aspects of this flower, but from a morphological standpoint, the sunflower flower, how is it made? First of all in the sunflower, what we usually think of as a single flower is actually an inflorescence (also called a flower head) or a collection of flowers. Indeed, the sunflower has the floral structure of the Asteraceae, a genus of plants known for the presence of a peduncle to which are attached the bracts to which are inserted the disc flowers and petals.
As we have come to understand, the very presence of a sunflower in a room can do some good in itself. So why not offer a sunflower to someone who is in a state of suffering, illness or simply loneliness? Bringing the “flower that follows the light” can revive an environment but certainly also the people who live there. We think of the lonely and the elderly in particular.
Moreover, in Eastern cultures, the sunflower often takes on the meaning of longevity and even immortality, probably because compared to other flowers, once cut, the sunflower keeps for several days before drying up. We therefore offer this flower by wishing the recipient a long and peaceful life.
Still following this symbolism of the sunflower as a carrier of light, we can finally associate this flower with the birth of a new life. Giving a sunflower to a couple of new parents can certainly be a good omen so that there will always be light in the child’s life and he, through his love for his parents, is always a source of joy and pride for the latter. Wearing a pair of sunflower earrings can give you the chance to express the sunflower energy through your everyday life.
Detailed meanings of the sunflower
Happiness
While sunflowers come in a range of warm colors, from gold to orange, red and purple, they are best known for their bright yellow color. Since the color yellow represents joy, happiness and laughter, these qualities are what the sunflower embodies.
Optimism
Sunflowers are famous for turning their large, round faces toward the sun. For this reason, they are also symbols of optimism. Sunflowers, literally, look on the bright side.
Like the glow of the sun, sunflowers send out positive vibes. They are the perfect flowers to bring more joy to a garden or a smile to someone’s face. Optimism is also a form of gratitude in that it honors the gifts of life. Thus, sunflowers also make great thank you gifts.
Honesty
Sunflowers naturally gravitate toward the sunlight. Because they gravitate toward the light, they are also symbols of truth and honesty. As they symbolize the idea of “making light of a way,” sunflowers embody the saying, “The truth will set you free.”
Longevity
Sunflowers are drought tolerant because they have an extensive root system. In addition, some sunflower species are perennials, so they bloom year after year.
Because of their hardiness, they are also symbols of vitality and longevity.
Peace
A lesser known fact about sunflowers is that they are symbols of nuclear disarmament. Therefore, the meaning of the sunflower also includes peace.
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the new nation of Ukraine held the third largest arsenal of nuclear weapons. In 1996, Ukraine committed itself to complete nuclear disarmament. To honor the occasion, representatives from the United States, Russia and Ukraine planted sunflowers at the site of a former nuclear missile silo.
Why sunflowers?
But why did they plant sunflowers? Not only are the bright yellow flowers symbols of optimism, but they also have the ability to absorb radioactive isotopes. In fact, sunflowers were planted at the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear disaster sites because they help clean the environment of radioactive toxins.
Admiration and devotion
As they turn their bright faces to follow the sun, sunflowers are also symbols of admiration and unwavering faith.
People from a variety of cultures and religious beliefs associate the meaning of the sunflower with devotion and unwavering devotion.
Admiration and devotion can extend beyond religious faith. Thus, the meaning of the sunflower can also represent loyalty and devotion to another person, a group of people, children or even animals. It can also mean dedication to a professional vocation or hobby.
Spiritual meaning of the sunflower
As they turn to face the sun, sunflowers remind people of those who seek deeper spiritual understanding and enlightenment. Often growing in fields full of other sunflowers, they represent devotees of a particular faith.
Associated Spiritual Animals
Sunflowers share traits and symbiosis with certain wild animals and insects. For example, moths, bees, butterflies and beetles all depend on sunflowers for food and in turn pollinate the flowers, prolonging their life force.
In addition, squirrels, chipmunks, mice, rabbits and raccoons all enjoy eating sunflower seeds.
Spiritually, sunflowers share synergies with the bee spirit animal because they are symbols of devotion and dedication, as well as happiness. Additionally, they are associated with the monarch and swallowtail butterfly spirit animals because of their orange and yellow hues and connection to the spiritual realm. Finally, sunflowers are associated with the spirit animals hawk and eagle because they symbolize spiritual ascension and all play an important role in Native American culture.
