What does sunflowers symbolize?
Dwarf varieties symbolize adoration, tall varieties symbolize haughtiness, according to early Eastern traditions of flower symbolism and language. This was later adopted through Europe, and was also very popular in Victorian traditions, including the tradition of sending “mussy-tussies”. Astrologically, sunflowers represent the signs of the sun (this seems rather obvious, huh?), including the sign of Leo. Culturally, sunflowers are often seen as symbols of the sun and the divinity of the ruler (particularly in cultures where the ruler was considered god-like). If your friend gave you a sunflower, I would think that they adore you – and you can tell them that according to tradition, you thank them for worshiping you like a god lol!
They can symbolize whatever you want them to, remember that someone somewhere made up about everything, including what something, like flowers, symbolize. Where I grew up, sunflowers are symbolic of weeds, since they were the dominant large weed. I grow the tame varieties in my garden, but don’t worry about what someone somewhere decided they should “symbolize”, just like them because they are easy to grow, have big flowers and the larger ones have seeds I can save for the birds over winter.
