| Family | Asteraceae (daisy family) |
| Hardiness zone | 2-11 (annual) |
| Sun | Full sun |
| Water | Deep but infrequent; deep taproot |
| Soil | Tolerant; not fussy |
| Spacing | 30-45 cm (giants wider) |
| Sowing / starting | Direct-sow after last frost; germinates fast and grows quickly |
| Harvest | Seeds when the back of the head turns brown and petals drop; net from birds if you want them |
| Common pests | Birds and squirrels want the seed; sunflower moth. Note: allelopathic to some seedlings. |
Plant identification here is educational — never eat, forage, or medicate with a wild plant on the basis of a website alone. Many edible plants have toxic look-alikes. When in doubt, grow from known seed, or confirm with an expert before you harvest.