Fort Wayne, Indiana (AP) — When Ukrainian immigrant Alex Babich stood in Indiana’s backyard with his neck looking 35 feet (11 meters) into the sky, he wasn’t just staring at sunflower seeds. He is looking at his roots and his future legacy.
The flower, nicknamed “Clover” and was confirmed by the Guinness World Record on Wednesday as the highest sunflower ever, stretching as high as a telephone pole.
Realizing this feat has special significance for the 47-year-old Babich, because the sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine.
Born and raised in Ukraine, he immigrated to the United States in 1991 after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Seven years ago, he started Growing sunflower As his symbol Love his motherland. Babich's first sunflowers were 13 feet (4 meters) tall, then 15 (4.5), then 19 (5.8). Soon, he began to ask himself, “How far can we go?” said Beech, the record-setting flowers were the result of “years of trial and error.”
“This is one of my kids,” he said. “You take care of it every day.”
Alex Babich climbed up the structure of his nearly 36-foot-high sunflower with the world's tallest flower in his home in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Thursday, September 11, 2025.
Alex Babich climbed up the structure of his nearly 36-foot-high sunflower with the world's tallest flower in his home in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Thursday, September 11, 2025.
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Babich's 10-year-old son also made a significant contribution to winning the name of towering flowers. He will climb onto the scaffolding and put four-leaf clover on the leaves of the sunflower, wishing you good luck.
“I will die one day, but the story of this flower will continue to exist,” he said. “My children will tell this story to their grandchildren.”
Babich was nervous when the measurement day arrived on September 3.
About 85 people gathered to watch, including several master gardeners from local universities and representatives of Allen County’s weightlifting and measures. Babich made WhatsApp calls with a representative from Guinness World Records. A camera crew member was filming, and a drone flew over his head. According to Guinness, even Icy D. Eagle, the mascot of the Fort Wayne Komets minor league hockey team, was there.
They used a 40-foot cherry picker to measure the flowers. The Clover is 35 feet (11 meters) and 9 inches (22.9 cm) tall, 5 feet (1.5 meters) taller than the previous German world record holder.
“It’s very exciting,” Beach said. “It’s as good as it is for someone who grows up giants.”
Alex Babich, posing in front of the structure surrounding his nearly 36-foot-tall sunflower, has the world's tallest flower at his home in Fort Wayne, Indiana on Thursday, September 11, 2025. （AP Photo/Michael Conroy）
Alex Babich, posing in front of the structure surrounding his nearly 36-foot-tall sunflower, has the world's tallest flower at his home in Fort Wayne, Indiana on Thursday, September 11, 2025. （AP Photo/Michael Conroy）
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Growing up in Ukraine’s food shortage inspired Babic’s love for gardening. He is right Deeper the sunflower After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
“We're just praying that the war will end and the killing will stop,” Babic said. “We're just hoping that this inspires some people in the right place. It's long enough.”
sunflower Long a national symbol of peace in Ukraine, it has become Unity With a country surrounded by enemies. In a viral video clip in the early days of the war, a Ukrainian woman faced a Russian soldier and finally offered to “release” Sunflower seeds in your pocket So when you die, they grow. ”
Ministers from the United States, Russia and Ukraine in 1996 Pervomaysk-grown sunflowers Mark the missile base for nuclear weapons disarmament in the country. In 1986, after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded and later brought Babici's family to the United States, scientists planted sunflowers to remove toxins from the soil.
Babich's Sunflower will soon become the star of the documentary “Bloom,” which is scheduled to be released this summer. Meanwhile, Babich began planting sunflowers around the campground he visited with his family and spreading seed packs to the children during the festival.
What is pasted on the seed bag is a sticker that says “Spread Love – Sunflower Seeds”.
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Fernando reported from Chicago.