World's largest airport sunflower exhibit to showcase more than 5000 stems – and here's how you can create your own display at home

The largest sunflower display ever to be installed in an airport has opened to the public in Singapore. Changi airport will showcase more than 5000 stems in a series of large-scale floral installations from 30 August to 30 September.

Avid gardeners will know that growing sunflowers is easy and enjoyable, and those on display at the airport show just how big and bright these flowers can be. Alongside the cut flower stems, the display has large sunflower topiary-structures with the biggest standing at 26 feet tall.

The sunflowers were grown in the airport's own plant nursery, and include the varieties 'Sunrise,' 'Florenza,' and 'Strawberry Blonde.' Not only have the sunflowers come from a cut flower garden within the airport, but the exhibits also represent the diverse uses of these flowers, such as harvesting sunflower seeds to eat and cook with.

Sunflowers have been associated with Changi airport since the opening of its sunflower garden in 2002. It is one of nine other gardens at the airport, which visitors can enjoy before going on their travels. This month, the sunflowers are on show in 20 locations around the airport.

'Our lush gardens have always been more than just a feature – they are an experience that embodies the warmth and hospitality of our airport. We are thrilled to unveil this vibrant 'Sunflower Sojourn' display, as an extension of the sunflower garden to the other parts of the airport,' says Mr. Ang Siew Min, Senior Vice President of Airport Operations Development, Changi Airport Group.

3 ways to make cut sunflowers last longer

Keeping sunflowers blooming for longer in the garden requires careful fertilizing and pruning, among other things. However, caring for cut sunflowers in the home is a bit different. Here are some expert tips for getting cut sunflowers to last longer, so that you can create your own sunflower showcase at home.

1. Remove lower leaves from your sunflower stems

Just like caring for tulips in a vase, rule number one of caring for cut sunflowers is remove lower leaves before you even put the stems in a vase.

'My top tip is to remove the lower leaves from the stems and don't allow any leaves to sit under the water, as this can lead to bacteria forming when they rot that will shorten the life span of your cut sunflowers,' says Rachel Bull, florist and head of gardens at Homes & Gardens.

You can easily remove the lower leaves of sunflower stems by gently pulling them off. Alternatively, use these scissors from Walmart to cut them away.

Rachel Bull

Rachel is a gardening editor, flower grower and floral designer. Her journalism career began on Country Living magazine, sparking a love of container gardening and wild planting. After more than a decade writing for and editing a range of consumer, business and special interest titles, Rachel became editor of floral art magazine The Flower Arranger. She then trained and worked as a floral designer and stylist in London for six years, before joining the Homes & Gardens team. 

2. Cut your sunflower stems diagonally

Another tip for keeping these robust flowers blooming for longer in a vase is cutting them on an angle.

'Give the stems a one-inch diagonal cut and place them straight into clean, fresh water. Sunflowers have hollow stems, which means the ends can decompose quicker,' says Rachel. 'Every time you change their water (I recommend once every two days) give your stems a fresh cut,' she adds.

This technique will work well for all cutting garden flowers, both slowing down the decomposition rate, as Rachel describes, and offering a large surface area for water absorption.

You can use a range of essential gardening tools to do this - like these pruning shears from Amazon.

3. Choose a tall vase with a narrow neck for your sunflowers

Perfecting your home sunflower display also comes down to choosing the best vessel to house your cut flowers in. For sunflowers, this means choosing the best vase to support their long stems.

'When it comes to choosing a vase, make sure you have something tall and narrow enough to support the height of your stems and avoid them drooping,' advises Rachel.

When growing sunflowers outdoors you may use a stake to keep them upright, but something like these cylinder vases from Amazon will support your cut stems indoors.

FAQs

Where should I place cut sunflowers?

'Although sunflowers love to follow the sunlight when they are growing outdoors, your cut stems will do better if they are not placed in direct sun,' says Rachel Bull, florist and head of gardens at Homes & Gardens.

Cut sunflowers in direct sunlight will wilt more quickly, so they will last much longer in bright, indirect light when displayed in your home.

You can expect cut sunflowers to last for up to two weeks in the home, so Changi Airport's month-long display is certainly impressive. If you want to further uplift your home floral showcase, try growing cut and come again flowers in your yard that will keep providing you with plenty of blooms to enjoy.