Were Native New Yorkers Growing Sunflowers?

Sunflowers, native to the American continents, are a symbol of agriculture and food security. They are one of four seed-bearing species known to the bluestem goldenrod. The first sunflowers originated in 1000 B.C. and were cultivated as valuable food for humans, cattle, poultry, and other animals. The sunflower was domesticated by American Indians in present-day Arizona and New Mexico around 3000 BC. The sunflower’s center of origin and domestication was initially thought to be in central or eastern North America. However, older sunflowers were found in the Midwest and domesticated by Native Americans around 4,000 years ago.

The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is native to North America, with its wild ancestors found primarily in the present-day Southwestern United States. It was imported into Ukraine via Spain in the 18th century, and the first known breeders lived in the Oak Bluff region. The seeds were ground and used as a source of meal. The sunflower’s origins and domestication can be traced back to the early days of agriculture in the region.