Looking for Sunflowers in Provence
Explore · Our House in Provence
As soon as we finished our drive around the lavender fields we started hunting for sunflowers, called tournesol in French.
You may not be aware that despite the fact that you find postcards, photos and paintings of sunflowers all over Provence, they are actually native to the Americas. Sunflower seeds were brought to Europe by Spaniards in the 16th century where sunflower oil became a widespread cooking ingredient.
Sunflowers have rough, hairy stems, and what most people call the flower on a mature sunflower is a flower head of numerous small flowers crowded together. The outer flowers are sterile and the flowers inside the circular head mature into seeds from which oil is extracted. There are many beautiful sunflower fields in Vaucluse near our house in Sablet.
for the original blog post by Our House in Provence.
Turning to the Sun
The French word tournesol translates into ‘turn to the sun.’ In reality, young plants do track circadian rhythms. However, well before full maturity, the plants no longer turn with the daily cycles of the sun. The stems stand rigid as the sunny flowers face east.

Sunflowers are common in parts of Europe, with 60% of the global production. However, it is one of the few plants that originated in the Americas. The domestication of the sunflower traces to present-day Mexico and as long ago as 2600 BC. Although, some seeds may have come from Asia originally. The seeds were only brought to the rest of Europe via Spain in the early 16th century.

The sunflower is a large composite flower supported by a sturdy coarse stem and with sharp leaves. Petal florets surround the outer part of the head that are commonly yellow but can also be orange, red and other mixed colours.
Cultivating Sunflowers
The flower’s interior contains florets cleverly packed in an effective spiral pattern maximizing the number of seeds. These florets produce the seeds used for oil and other nutritional uses. Read more about French sunflowers in Provence.
Although the seeds produce 80% of the crop value when pressed to create sunflower oil, the entire plant is valuable. Fibre from the stem is turned into paper. After the seed extraction, the remaining leaves and the “cake” become animal feed.
Cultivation of plants for sunflower oil in Russia became popular in the 18th century, as it was the one oil allowed during lent. More recently, sunflowers were planted near the disaster site at Chernobyl, using phytoremediation to extract harmful toxins from the earth.
Please share this with friends and family.
Legal
All rights reserved. Perfectly Provence articles and other content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten (including translations into other languages) or redistributed without written permission. For usage information, please contact us.
Syndication Information
Affiliate Information
As an Amazon Associate, this website earns from qualifying purchases. Some recipes, posts and pages may have affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, we receive a small commission that does not impact your price. Thank you in advance for supporting our work to maintain Perfectly Provence.
Related Provence Articles
Carolyne Kauser-Abbott ·
Explore ·
Villages Towns and Cities
June 13, 2025
Céreste is an authentic, unspoilt, and charming Provençal village. It is immersed in lavender country, steeped in history, and sits on the foothills of the Grand Luberon. While the region has many fascinating villages, we asked the owner of Mas de Grivet, a beautiful holiday rental home, what makes Céreste unique. The answers below should …
Continue Reading
Christine van der Linden ·
Explore ·
Hans Zeegers ·
Provencal Recipes ·
Villages Towns and Cities
June 5, 2025
Nestled between the Mediterranean Sea’s azure waters and Provence’s rolling hills lies Antibes, a gem of the French Riviera that enchants visitors with its irresistible blend of history, art, and culinary traditions. A Journey Through the Centuries As you wander through the narrow, cobblestone streets of the old town, you are taking a journey through …
Continue Reading
Explore ·
Renata Haidle ·
Road Trips South of France
May 9, 2025
Provence has been called many things: a painter’s paradise, perfume capital, land of lavender and light. But what if it were also your open-air racetrack? Ultimate Road Trip in Provence Le Grand Tour Provence, a new luxury road trip by Ultimate Driving Tours, invites you to see this beloved region from the driver’s seat of …
Continue Reading
Carolyne Kauser-Abbott ·
Explore ·
Guided Holiday Tours
April 30, 2025
The South of France is blessed with sun-drenched landscapes and a rich history. TripUSAFrance invites a small group of travellers to explore this enchanting region on its signature tour in Provence and Occitanie. Embark on a journey through southern France with TripUSAFrance, to a place where the scenery has inspired artists for centuries and nature’s …
Continue Reading
Michel and Shirley
Michel and Shirley, live in wine country, in Windsor, California. They have a full family with two beautiful daughters and five amazing grandchildren. Michel's day job is as CEO of Chancellor Health Care, a company which provides housing and services to older adults.
Previously a co-owner of a popular French bistro called Bistro des Copains located in Western Sonoma County California. The Bistro was closed in early 2015, after nine years!
In 2008, after searching for years and visiting many houses they bought a 17th century stone village house in the medieval village of Sablet which is in the Vaucluse region of Provence France.
Please read about the Sablet House (available for rent) and follow their blog Our House in Provence.
No Comment