I like Sunflowers for many reasons.
The blossoms are beautiful and bees love them. I originally planted a few varieties. One with large blossoms and the others with smaller blossoms. The blossoms open mid to later summer providing blossoms for the bees and native pollinators.
They grow well in many different soils. They also come up as volunteers, meaning once you plant some in your garden, seeds that get dropped (from the blossoms or by birds) come up the next year on their own. This results in free sunflowers! In late summer and early fall birds will visit to eat the seeds.
Sunflowers are annuals, meaning they die each fall. The roots they put in the ground will die and decompose adding organic matter to the soil. The plants grow tall and produce a significant amount of plant matter that eventually goes onto the compose pile.
Sunflower seeds can be purchased pretty much anywhere garden supplies and seeds are sold.
Below are photos from my garden and backyard orchard.
