MathematicsCuriosity
The pattern hiding in sunflowers
Fibonacci numbers, growing in nature.
JM
Jordi Miralles
21 Jul 2026
Count the spirals on a sunflower head or a pinecone and you'll often find Fibonacci numbers: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21…
Each number is the sum of the two before it. Plants pack their seeds using the related golden angle, which fills space with remarkable efficiency.