PlantsMap

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10 plants worth knowing

Iran

Iran is a vast plateau ringed by mountains: in the north, by the Caspian Sea, grow the humid Hyrcanian forests – a relic from before the ice ages – while the Zagros range in the west is clothed in oak woodland and meadows full of bulbous flowers. The interior is taken up by semi-deserts and the salt deserts of Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut. Persia gave the world the art of the garden, as well as saffron, pistachios and many ornamental plants.

Hover over a plant to see on the map where it grows.

where it grows

  1. Saffron crocus 1

    crop

    Saffron crocus

    Crocus sativus

    Iran supplies about 90% of the world’s saffron – the most expensive spice on earth, picked by hand, three stigmas per flower.
  2. Pistachio 2

    crop

    Pistachio

    Pistacia vera

    Iranian pistachios from Rafsanjan are “green gold” – one of the country’s most important non-oil exports.
  3. Mediterranean cypress 3

    tree · Symbol of eternity in Persian art (the boteh motif)

    Mediterranean cypress

    Cupressus sempervirens

    The Cypress of Abarkuh is about 4,000 years old – one of the oldest living trees in the world and a national natural monument of Iran.
  4. Crown imperial 4

    flower

    Crown imperial

    Fritillaria imperialis

    Persians call it the “upside-down tulip” – in spring its orange crowns blaze on the slopes of the Zagros Mountains.
  5. Persian ironwood 5

    tree

    Persian ironwood

    Parrotia persica

    In autumn this ironwood of the Hyrcanian forests turns red and gold, lighting up the ancient forests by the Caspian Sea.
  6. Damask rose 6

    shrub

    Damask rose

    Rosa × damascena

    In May, damask rose petals are distilled into rosewater in Kashan and Ghamsar – the golabgiri festival draws crowds.
  7. Date palm 7

    palm

    Date palm

    Phoenix dactylifera

    Soft, dark mazafati dates from Bam melt in the mouth – Iran is one of the world’s largest date producers.
  8. Pomegranate 8

    crop

    Pomegranate

    Punica granatum

    On Yalda, the longest night of the year, Iranians eat pomegranates and watermelons – the red seeds symbolise dawn and new life.
  9. Persian oak 9

    tree

    Persian oak

    Quercus brantii

    The Persian oak forms the vast forests of the Zagros Mountains – Iran’s largest forest area, stretching along the country’s western border.
  10. Oriental plane 10

    tree

    Oriental plane

    Platanus orientalis

    Shah Abbas lined Isfahan’s Chaharbagh avenue with plane trees, and ancient chenars still shade the courtyards of mosques and bazaars.