Shefalii Dadabhoy’s initiative aims to blanket Chennai with sunflowers. Schools, malls, and communities join the movement for a greener city.
Chennai is on a mission to become India’s “Sunflower City,” led by chef and urban gardener Shefalii Dadabhoy. Since June 2024, the initiative has grown from 1,000 sunflowers in her Rutland Gate garden to a citywide effort. Schools, NGOs, gated communities, and Express Avenue Mall have joined, planting sunflowers in gardens, balconies, and parking spaces. A WhatsApp group and an Instagram page, Chennai.sunflowercity, managed by teens, distribute free seeds and organize workshops.
Sunflowers, blooming in Chennai during April and August, offer ecological benefits. Shefalii highlights their deep taproots that enhance soil drainage and their ability to attract pollinators like butterflies, enriching biodiversity. Historically, sunflowers have been used to extract heavy metals and radiation from soil, as seen after Chernobyl. Four schools and 30 students at SOS Children’s Village in East Tambaram are participating, turning it into a friendly competition.
The movement has brought joy, with residents sharing photos and drone footage of golden blooms. Shefalii estimates tens of thousands of sunflowers will brighten Chennai within a month, adding vibrant positivity to the city’s landscape.
