Missouri man will get a jury trial over a sunflower memorial he planted for a loved one, after a judge ruled the flowers count as a crop

A Missouri man will get his day in court after the Missouri Court of Appeals ordered a jury trial over a sunflower memorial he says he planted to honor a loved one, according to The Sun. Chris Bank has apparently been caught in a years-long legal fight with the city of St. Peters over the garden, which he says he first started in 2021. The dispute escalated in October 2025 when a judge ruled that the sunflowers technically counted as a crop, according to local CBS affiliate KMOV.

According to The Sun, under St. Peters city rules, crops are not allowed to cover more than 10 percent of a home’s yard. This classification has apparently been the central point of disagreement for Bank, who maintains the flowers are a personal tribute and not a farming effort.

Bank said that the garden was never intended as an agricultural project. In a statement to KMOV, he explained his position by stating, “I don’t harvest it, I don’t consume it, I don’t sell the seeds.” He added that his process involves growing the flowers and then removing them, noting that the yard looks like a normal lawn shortly after the season ends. 

The dispute centers on whether the sunflowers count as a crop or a tribute

The dispute reportedly began in 2022 when Bank received a formal letter from the city warning him that his sunflowers were in violation of local codes. According to documents from the city reviewed by KMOV, the case was driven in part by ongoing complaints from neighbors, with some reportedly describing the garden as “ridiculous.” Disagreements over who controls a property can apparently escalate quickly, as seen when a tenant’s home was disrupted by her landlord in another case.

According to The Sun, one anonymous complaint went so far as to label Bank as vindictive, a description he firmly rejects. Bank said he was confused by the accusation, stating, “In vindictive, you’d have to give me an example. I don’t know who that would be that would say that and not give an example.”

The dispute apparently drew more attention in 2024 when, according to Bank, surveillance footage captured a woman using scissors to cut down parts of the sunflower garden. Bank has said the garden holds deep personal meaning. He told KMOV, “She truly loved sunflowers, and I thought it would be fitting for her to be part of it.”

Some of Bank’s supporters have argued that the city is overreaching. One supporter named Lexi shared her view during a court appearance before the October ruling, as reported by KMOV, stating, “This is attacking him. This is not that they care about the sunflowers.” She added that she views his actions as defensive rather than argumentative. 

Bank has also claimed the city may be targeting him because of a separate property dispute he previously had with his homeowners’ association. Missouri has seen no shortage of unusual legal disputes, as seen where a man caused a flood in the Mississippi River to prevent his wife from returning home. 

The city of St. Peters has said it is simply following standard procedures. In a statement provided to the media, the city said it responds to resident concerns and works toward resolution before resorting to fines. “When our residents file a concern, we have to check it out. If there’s a violation, we try to work with people to fix the issue. If they don’t, we have to follow the legal process,” the city said, per KMOV.