Helianthus

Sunflower

“adoration and loyalty”

The sunflower's meaning of adoration and loyalty comes from the Greek tale of Clytie, the nymph who turned her face to follow the sun god each day. Young sunflowers really do track the sun across the sky, a habit botanists call heliotropism, before settling to face east as they mature. The Victorians read all this as steadfast devotion, and it remains one of the most straightforwardly happy flowers we sell.

In season, and in the studio

Sunflower is in season June to September, so it is in the studio this month. In the studio's bunches it is a focal flower: the one a bunch is built around, with the others chosen to frame it. The studio buys it in golden, and at the bench each colour is read for its own meaning.

What each colour says

• Goldenadoration, loyalty and long life

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