PlantsMap

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5 plants worth knowing

Palestine

The landscape of Palestine is made up of the limestone hills of the West Bank, covered with olive groves and Mediterranean scrub, the hot Jordan Valley with the oasis of Jericho, and the sandy coastal Gaza Strip. Winter rains mean that in spring the hills burst into bloom with irises, anemones and wild herbs.

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

where it grows

plants in our catalogue; native and endemic according to WCVP (Kew) · source
  1. Olive 1

    tree · National tree and a symbol of Palestinians’ rootedness in the land

    native

    Olive

    Olea europaea

    For Palestinians the olive tree is more than a crop – it is a symbol of family, of the land and of holding on to it.
  2. Gilboa iris 2

    flower · National flower of Palestine

    native

    Gilboa iris

    Iris haynei

    A huge, purple-veined iris from around the village of Faqqua is regarded as the national flower of Palestine.
  3. Syrian oregano 3

    perennial

    native

    Syrian oregano

    Origanum syriacum

    The wild herb za’atar is the taste of a Palestinian breakfast – bread is dipped in olive oil, then in the green spice mix.
  4. Date palm 4

    palm

    cultivated

    Date palm

    Phoenix dactylifera

    Jericho, one of the oldest cities in the world, has been famous for dates for millennia – and Deir al-Balah in Gaza means “monastery of dates”.
  5. Prickly pear 5

    cactus · A symbol of patience and steadfastness (sumud)

    cultivated

    Prickly pear

    Opuntia ficus-indica

    In Arabic “sabr” means both “prickly pear” and “patience” – which is why the cactus has become a Palestinian symbol of perseverance.