Description
Ukraine sunflowers:
To Ukrainians, the sunflower has always had a special place in their heart as the national flower of Ukraine. However, since the Russian invasion, people around the world have taken up the sunflower as a symbol of support for Ukraine.
“In Ukraine, sunflowers signify peace,” says Toby Buckland, gardener, gardening expert, TV presenter and author. “And while that may be a distant dream, planting sunflowers is a show of solidarity and a prayer of thanks for the liberty, equality, and fraternity that we enjoy.”
Why is the Sunflower the National Flower of Ukraine?
The blue and yellow flag of Ukraine mimics the vibrant color of sunflowers against a clear blue sky. Sunflowers make up a huge chunk of the Ukrainian economy. The country is one of the world’s major suppliers of sunflower oil.
The oil has become a staple in Ukrainian households and sunflowers became the Ukrainian national flower. Many families grow the colorful flowers in their gardens, collecting seeds from flowers to eat as snacks. Women often weave sunflowers into their clothes on special occasions.
We are grateful to Rebecca Knight of Gardening Etc. magazine for this information.
We embrace the sunflower, a symbol of resistance, peace and unity.
Displaying sunflowers has become one of the many ways the world is showing solidarity for the Ukrainian people.
At the State of the Union 2022, First Lady Jill Biden wore a dress with a sunflower sewn-in on the right sleeve. From Mexico City to Caracas, protesters hold up sunflowers as they took to the street to condemn Russia’s actions. In London, sunflowers poke out of the barricades in front of the building housing Sunflowers for Peace, a charity organizing aid for Ukrainian residents. In Reno, Nevada, sunflowers emerge from a public art piece that spells out “BELIEVE.”
