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A mutated sunflower with a twisted stalk and spiral flower head appeared in the community garden at St. Albert's Historic River Lots and Grain Elevators in September 2026 and drew 18,000 views after a video was posted online.
A mutated sunflower that emerged in the community garden at St. Albert's Historic River Lots and Grain Elevators in September 2026 has drawn 18,000 views on social media.
The plant has a long thin stalk as wide as a hand that twists into a multi-faceted flower head. Christina Hardie, the program and site manager for the heritage site, posted a video of the unusual bloom. She said she was wonderfully surprised by the reaction. Hardie had been watching the strange stalk for a couple of weeks before she got close to the flower head.
She described the plant as having wild features. The blossom looks like something out of John Carpenter's The Thing. Hardie said the site got a double whammy with this sunflower because the stalk is super strange and the flower head is almost like a spiral. She initially shared the video with coworkers, saying it was like pointing out a strange thing found in the garden.
Mutated Sunflower Fasciation Explained
But the post quickly resonated with people. The odd growth is caused by fasciation, according to Purdue Plant Doctor. Fasciation results from a disruption of cells in a plant. This can occur as a spontaneous mutation or as a result of trauma.
The disruption causes abnormal growth wherever it is located. This leads to odd-shaped stems or distorted flowers. In this case, the sunflower exhibited both an unusually thick stalk and a spiral flower head. Fasciation can affect many types of plants, but it is relatively rare.
When it occurs, it often produces striking and unusual shapes that attract attention. The video Hardie posted on social media has racked up 18,000 views. She said the reaction has been shocking and that plant nerds are coming out. Hardie noted that she is one as well.
Viral Video Attracts Plant Lovers
There has been lots of interest in the mutant sunflower. The community garden at Saint Albert's Historic River Lots and Grain Elevators is part of a heritage site that showcases the area's agricultural history. The unexpected attention has brought a lighthearted moment to the site. Hardie's post turned a simple garden discovery into a viral curiosity.
It highlights the wonders of nature and the enthusiasm of plant lovers. The mutated sunflower popped up in the community garden of the heritage site in September 2026. A photo of the plant was taken by Darcy Seaton of CTV News Edmonton. The story was reported on September 26, 2026 at 4:48 p.m. EDT.
The plant's appearance resembles something from a science fiction film. Its thick stalk and spiraling head have fascinated many viewers online. Hardie said she was wonderfully surprised to see the reaction to her video. She had been seeing the weird stalk for a couple of weeks before getting close to the flower head.
Rare Condition Causes Unusual Growth
She said it has some wild stuff going on. The sunflower's unusual form has drawn attention from plant enthusiasts and the general public alike. Fasciation is a relatively rare condition that can affect many types of plants. It often produces striking and unusual shapes.
The disruption of cells can happen spontaneously or due to trauma. The result is abnormal growth wherever it occurs. In this case, the sunflower showed both an unusually thick stalk and a spiral flower head. Purdue Plant Doctor explains that this is caused by a disruption of cells in a plant.
The condition causes odd shaped stems or distorted flowers. The community garden is part of a heritage site that showcases the area's agricultural history. The unexpected attention has brought a lighthearted moment to the site. Hardie initially shared the video with coworkers.
She said it was almost like sending a video saying hey look at this strange thing I found in our garden. But the post really resonated with people. The plant nerds are coming out, which I am one as well, Hardie said. There has been lots of interest and I have been shocked.
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CP24:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Christina Hardie Saint Albert Sunflower Fasciation Community Garden Social Media Purdue Plant Doctor Mutant Sunflower St. Albert Heritage Site Social Media Viral
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