Sunflowers are a common motif on modern diasporan pysanky, and a very popular flower in Ukrainian gardens.  They are grown not just for their beauty, but for tasty seeds and the oil it produces.  In summer, when driving through the steppes, you will see huge fields of these flowers, their golden heads following the sun.

Sunflowers are not indigenous to Ukraine, but were brought over as part of the Columbian exchange. They have been grown commercially for oil since the 1800s.

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