Why do grown-up sunflowers all face east?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do grown-up sunflowers all face east?

The Big Idea

A field of grown sunflowers all faces one way! They face east, toward the sunrise. Why?

Young Followers

Step one: Young Followers. Young sunflowers follow the Sun across the sky each day. At night, they swing back to face east again.

Grown-Up Flowers

Step two: Grown-Up Flowers. Once the flower is fully grown, its stem stiffens and the head stops moving. It stays facing east.

Morning Warmth

Step three: Morning Warmth. Scientists found in 2016 that east-facing heads warm up sooner in the morning. Bees visit warm flowers more, and the movement is driven by growth chemicals.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Face east. Follow the Sun. Swing back. Stay east.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! A sunflower head may hold over a thousand seeds. Studied in 2016. Bees like warm flowers. Growth chemicals move them.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! In late summer, find sunflowers or a picture of a field. With a grown-up, use a compass or map app. Check which way the heads face. Are they all the same? Which direction is it?

Outro

Young sunflowers follow the Sun each day and swing back at night. Once grown, their stems stiffen and the heads face east, where they warm up sooner in the morning and get more bee visits. Science is amazing! Keep asking questions! The more you look around, the more wonders you will find, so keep your eyes open! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!