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8 plants worth knowing

Syria

Syria combines the humid, forested Coastal Mountains by the Mediterranean with the vast steppes and Syrian Desert of the east, cut through by the Euphrates valley. On the fertile plains around Aleppo, Hama and Idlib olives, pistachios and cereals have been grown for thousands of years, and the gardens of Damascus were famed throughout the Arab world for their roses and jasmine.

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

where it grows

  1. Damask rose 1

    shrub · Symbol of Damascus; the tradition of growing it in Al-Mrah is on the UNESCO intangible heritage list

    Damask rose

    Rosa × damascena

    The rose that bears the name of Damascus – its oil and rosewater have scented cooking and perfume since the Middle Ages.
  2. Common jasmine 2

    climber · Symbol of Damascus – the “city of jasmine”

    Common jasmine

    Jasminum officinale

    Damascus is called the “city of jasmine” – white flowers climb the walls of old houses and fill courtyards with their scent.
  3. Pistachio 3

    crop

    Pistachio

    Pistacia vera

    In Arabic pistachios are simply “Aleppo nuts” – Syrian orchards have supplied them for baklava for centuries.
  4. Bay laurel 4

    tree

    Bay laurel

    Laurus nobilis

    Oil from laurel berries gives the famous Aleppo soap its green colour and distinctive herbal scent.
  5. Aleppo pine 5

    tree

    Aleppo pine

    Pinus halepensis

    This Mediterranean pine is named after Aleppo, because it was from there that it was described for science in the 18th century.
  6. Olive 6

    crop

    Olive

    Olea europaea

    Syria was among the world’s leading olive oil producers, and olive oil and laurel oil make the famous Aleppo soap.
  7. Apricot 7

    crop

    Apricot

    Prunus armeniaca

    Apricots from the Ghouta oasis near Damascus make qamar al-din – a dried apricot paste turned into a Ramadan drink.
  8. Syrian oregano 8

    perennial

    Syrian oregano

    Origanum syriacum

    Wild za’atar from the mountain slopes is the basis of a blend with sesame and sumac that Syrians eat for breakfast with bread and olive oil.