Unusual sunflower - Ask Extension
I am curious about cause of this mutation in the sunflower. Another flower head is growing in the center.
Knowledgebase
Unusual sunflower #878666
Asked July 24, 2024, 9:23 PM EDT
I am curious about cause of this mutation in the sunflower. Another flower head is growing in the center.
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
This appears to be a type of mutation called proliferation, and it can be somewhat common in certain plant groups like the daisy family (the large group that sunflowers belong to). Sometimes the mutation is temporary, occurring in certain blooms but not every flower in every year. If it does start to occur more frequently and more prominently in an individual plant (for perennials that survive the winter, that is), it might be due to a virus-like infection, in which case the affected plant may need replacing. For now, though, it's an interesting curiosity and the plant can be enjoyed as-is, especially since it's an annual.
Miri
Miri
Thank you for the response! I thought you might like to see that the flower head in the middle has now bloomed.
You're welcome, and thank you! That is indeed an interesting flower.
