Why do sunflowers face the sun?
Young sunflowers turn to follow the sun, because sunshine helps them make food.
Pip’s answer
- Young sunflowers turn to follow the sun, because sunshine helps them make food.
- All day, the flower bud slowly swings from east to west with the sun.
- At night it turns back east, ready to say good morning to the sun!
- Ooh, grown-up sunflowers stop turning and just face the sunrise!
Try it together
Can you turn your face slowly, like a sunflower?
For grown-ups
Young sunflowers track the sun from east to west during the day, a behavior called heliotropism, and swing back east overnight, driven by an internal clock. As they mature, most stop moving and face east, which warms the flower in the morning and attracts more pollinating insects.
Ask your child: Which direction do you think a sunflower faces in the morning?
More questions kids ask
- 🌱Why do plants grow toward the light?
- 🌱Why do plants need sunshine?
- 🌱Why do seeds grow?
- 🍂Why do leaves change color?
- 🍎Why do apples grow on trees?
- 🌵Why do cactuses have spikes?
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