A Ukrainian immigrant in Indiana has grown what Guinness World Records has certified as the world’s tallest sunflower, a 35-foot, 9-inch plant towering above his Fort Wayne backyard as a tribute to his war-torn homeland.
Alex Babich, a 47-year-old landscape gardener, seed seller and outdoor gear designer, watched as roughly 85 people — including master gardeners from a local university and representatives from the Allen County Department of Weights and Measures — gathered on Sept. 3 to measure the plant. Guinness confirmed the record last Wednesday after a camera crew, a drone and a 40-foot cherry picker were used to verify the sunflower’s height while Babich spoke by phone with a Guinness representative.
The sunflower, nicknamed "Clover," reached the record height after years of trial and error, Babich said, beating the previous world record holder in Germany by about five feet. The plant earned its name after Babich’s 10-year-old son climbed scaffolding around the flower to place four-leaf clovers on its leaves for luck.
"I’m going to die someday, but the stories of this flower will live on," Babich said. "It’s as good as it gets for someone who grows giants." He described caring for the sunflower as akin to raising a child and said the accomplishment is deeply personal. Babich immigrated to the United States at age 14 after the Chernobyl disaster and began growing sunflowers seven years ago as a symbol of love for Ukraine. His commitment to the flower grew stronger after Russia’s 2022 invasion, he said.
Babich first surprised local gardeners when an early sunflower reached about 13 feet. Over subsequent seasons he refined his methods, experimenting with seed selection, soil, staking and watering to produce increasingly large plants. The certified specimen was the result of that iterative work, he said.
The sunflower’s certification involved multiple observers and measurement methods. In addition to the county and university representatives, visual documentation included aerial footage from a drone and measurements taken from a cherry picker to determine the vertical height from the base to the tip of the flower head.
Beyond the technical validation, Babich framed the sunflower as a symbol of solidarity and peace for Ukrainians. He said he hopes the plant draws attention to his homeland and inspires people who see it. "We just pray that the war will end, that the killing will stop," he said.
The towering flower will be featured in a documentary titled "Bloom," scheduled for release this summer, according to Babich. He said he expects the story of the sunflower will be passed down in his family and hopes it will keep drawing attention to Ukraine.
Local gardening communities reacted with admiration for the horticultural feat, and Babich described the moment of confirmation as "very emotional." Guinness World Records will list the measurement in its records following final verification procedures.
The sunflower stands as both a horticultural accomplishment and a personal emblem for Babich, who said the plant’s story will outlast him and remain part of his family’s history.