Syria · #1 shrub Symbol of Damascus; the tradition of growing it in Al-Mrah is on the UNESCO intangible heritage list
Damask rose
Rosa × damascena · locally: al-ward asz-szami (الورد الشامي)
The rose that bears the name of Damascus – its oil and rosewater have scented cooking and perfume since the Middle Ages.
The damask rose is a shrub growing to 2 m, with prickly stems and highly fragrant, double, pink flowers. It usually blooms once a year, in late May and June, and the petals are picked by hand early in the morning, when the scent is strongest. They are distilled into rosewater and precious rose oil, a cornerstone of perfumery. The Crusaders brought it to Europe, where it became the ancestor of many garden varieties.
Significance in the country
In 2019 UNESCO added the practices associated with the damask rose in the village of Al-Mrah near Damascus to the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. There the petals are made into rosewater, preserves and tea, and the annual harvest festival is a celebration for the whole region.
Where it grows
Grown mainly in the Damascus Governorate – the most famous fields lie at Al-Mrah in the Qalamoun Mountains; it also grows in gardens and courtyards in Damascus itself.
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