Fibonacci Spirals in Nature

Spirals in seashells, pinecones, and sunflowers often look strikingly ordered. Humans have long described these shapes using the Fibonacci sequence — a series of numbers where each new term is the sum of the two before it (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13…).

But it’s important to remember: the flower or shell itself is simply growing. The Fibonacci sequence is not hidden inside the plant — it is our way of describing what we see. This article explores how humans use numbers like Fibonacci to model patterns, while also recognising that nature itself doesn’t need numbers to exist.

The Sequence Itself

The Fibonacci sequence begins:

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21…

Each number is created by adding the two before it. Mathematicians have used this sequence to create formulas and curves that approximate certain natural shapes.

Seashells and Spirals

Some seashells grow in a spiral that expands outward. When humans apply mathematics to these spirals, we sometimes describe them as “following Fibonacci ratios.”

But the seashell does not “know” Fibonacci. It simply grows according to biological processes. The sequence is a human model — one way of making sense of the shape.

Sunflowers and Seed Patterns

Look closely at a sunflower, and you may see spirals in the seed head. Counting them, people often find Fibonacci numbers: 21 in one direction, 34 in the other.

Again, the sunflower is not using numbers. The sequence is our description of how seeds pack efficiently in space. Numbers help us talk about it, but the plant itself just grows.

Why Humans Use Numbers Here

Numbers like Fibonacci are powerful because they let us compare, model, and communicate about patterns. They are not truths hidden in the natural world but tools of human description.

This distinction matters:

• Nature: direct, immediate, beyond concepts.
• Numbers: conceptual tools invented to talk about what we notice.

A Mindful Perspective

Looking for numbers in everything can become overwhelming. A mindful approach is to use numbers when they’re helpful, but also to let them go.

The sunflower, seashell, or pinecone is fully present whether or not we apply Fibonacci to it. Sometimes the simplest practice is to just look, without needing to measure or describe.

A Simple Practice

1. Pick a natural object — a flower, a shell, or a pinecone.
2. Notice any shapes or patterns.
3. If you want, briefly describe it with numbers (spirals, counts, ratios).
4. Then set the description aside and return to the direct experience — colour, texture, form.

Closing Thought

The Fibonacci sequence is not written into nature — it is one of many tools humans use to describe growth and form. By noticing both the usefulness of numbers and their limits, we can enjoy the beauty of patterns without mistaking our descriptions for reality.