ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The University of Sulaimani set a Guinness World Record by spelling out its name using 6,000 myrtle trees to create the world’s longest sentence formed by living plants.
The project was executed over three months by four faculty members from the university’s College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences. Today, the name “University of Sulaimani” spans a prominent hillside across the campus.
“I thought instead of planting just 300 to 400 trees, we could turn them into a written sign that would serve as a lasting landmark for the University of Sulaimani,” team member Nawbahar Mustafa told Rudaw’s Peshawa Bakhtyar.
The living inscription covers an area of 3,600 square meters, stretching across the hillside to form a massive natural billboard.
Hemin Azeema, another university lecturer on the team, noted that myrtle was selected specifically for its resilience and low water requirements.
“The plants used in this type of work must meet specific conditions, including the ability to withstand pruning and shaping while remaining suitable for the local climate,” he explained. “Myrtle is an evergreen that tolerates harsh weather and minimal irrigation.”
The initiative was carried out in partnership with the South Kurdistan Group, a local conglomerate comprising more than a dozen companies.
Yadgar Fayaq, the communication and media director of the company, noted that “the previous record stood at around 2,400 trees, ours features 6,000.”
On its official website, Guinness World Records commended the achievement, noting that the project pairs "environmental awareness with a lasting display that promotes sustainability and green spaces on campus."
“Throughout the project, expert botanists oversaw and confirmed the health and well-being of the trees, ensuring they were properly planted, maintained, and capable of long-term growth,” it added.
