Sunflower - Helianthus annuus

A tall and easily recognised single stemmed, upright plant growing to 3 metres in height with yellow daisy like nodding flower heads 5 to 40 cm across. Leaves: Lower leaves are opposite, the upper leaves alternate, stalked. Blade usually broadly ovate, 10 to 40 cm long, at least lower down cordate based, large-toothed.

A casual - usually being introduced from birdseed mixes and appearing in rubbish dumps waste ground etc.

Flowering August and September.

Annual.

Widespread as a casual, particularly in the southern half of Britain.

Uncommon or little recorded as a casual in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 6 of the 617 tetrads.