The Sunflower
The Sunflower
National Flower of Ukraine
Sunflowers are now considered the national flower of Ukraine. However they are not a native flower and were only introduced in the 18th century by the Russians. Spanish settlers had brought the seeds to Europe from North America, where they were cultivated as early as 3000 BC. Until the recent war Ukraine was the largest supplier of sunflower oil in the World, responsible for approximately 46% of global production. The flower, sonyashnyk, is ubiquitous in Ukraine with huge fields stretching across the Central and Eastern Steppes
Throughout Ukraine’s history, the Sunflower has been a sign of accord. In 1996 the Ukrainian, Russian and US defence ministers planted Sunflowers at the country’s Pervomaysk missile base to mark Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons
Over a quarter of a century since that ceremony, the Sunflower remains a symbol of peace and the worldwide planting of these flowers has become a message to World leaders to find a way to secure a peaceful future
Candida Hopkinson