Drivers arriving in Brighton and Hove will be given a new welcome to the city - and designers hope the sign will get a warmer greeting than its predecessor.
Ecovert South's modern £8,000 sign on the A23 Patcham roundabout was branded an eyesore soon after it was built in June last year.
Now, the lettering has been ripped out to be replaced by silver-leafed plants spelling out the Welcome message from a bed of polyanthuses.
And to make sure there is no repeat of the controversy, it will be up to members of the public to come up with designs for the bed each year.
Selma Montford, secretary of the Old Patcham Society, said she was pleased with the move.
She said: "The lettering was simply hideous and it's marvellous to hear they are getting rid of it.
"The problem was that it was so appallingly designed. I'm thrilled they've finally seen sense to get rid of it."
The sign was put up last summer with the intention of giving visitors a big welcome to the new city as part of the Brighton and Hove in Bloom initiative.
But it was swiftly branded a monstrosity by some Tory councillors, who compared it unfavourably with Stonehenge.
A council spokeswoman said: "The flower bed in Patcham will be designed to reflect Brighton and Hove's new city status and will be structurally altered to give it increased visibility.
"The bed will include a new herbaceous border along the side and the word Welcome will be planted in seasonal bedding plants on its face.
"The display will be changed in the spring and summer and the public will be given the chance to design the bed by taking part in a Brighton and Hove in Bloom community competition."
A new flower bed on the A259, at the junction with Church Road, in Portslade will also be built this winter.
It will depict a Portslade Gassie, a small boat used to ferry gas work employees across the harbour.
The floral feature will replace shrubs and be sponsored by a local company.
Councillor Mike Middleton said: "These gateway beds will provide a cheerful greeting to residents and people visiting the city."
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