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🇹🇷 The flowers of Turkey

52 pages from Turkey: its flowers, the things made with them and the places to see them, across 17 cities and regions.

Turkey is home to nearly 10,000 plant species, with about a third found nowhere else. Its mountains, varied climates, and soils create a rich and diverse flora. The country is especially known for its endemic milk-vetches (Astragalus), mulleins (Verbascum), and thistles (Centaurea), as well as oak and pine forests.

  • About 32% of Turkey's plants are endemic.
  • Nearly 400 Astragalus species grow in Turkey.
  • The Anatolian diagonal divides eastern and western floras.
  • Verbascum (mullein) has its world center in Turkey.
  • Oak and pine forests cover much of the country.

The plant life of Turkey

Turkey's plant life is shaped by its mountains, varied climates, and complex geology. The country sits at the crossroads of three major botanical regions: Mediterranean, Euro-Siberian, and Irano-Turanian. This mix, along with fragmented landscapes, has led to high plant diversity and endemism. Forests of oak and pine, steppe grasslands, and Mediterranean shrublands are common. Central Anatolia is mostly dry steppe, while the coasts and mountains support richer forests. The range of soils—from saline flats to gypsum hills and serpentine outcrops—further boosts the variety of flowering plants.

From region to region in Turkey

Plant life changes sharply across Turkey. The Black Sea coast is humid and forested, with beech, fir, and chestnut. Central Anatolia is drier, with grasslands and salt-tolerant plants near lakes. The Mediterranean and Aegean coasts have hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, supporting shrubland and oak forests. The eastern mountains, separated by the Anatolian diagonal, have many species unique to that region, including mixed oak woodlands and alpine meadows.

Flowers to know in Turkey

Turkey is a center of diversity for several plant groups. The milk-vetch genus (Astragalus) has nearly 400 species here, many forming thorny cushions in dry mountains. Mulleins (Verbascum) are also abundant, with most species found only in Turkey. Thistles of the Centaurea genus and various cushion plants like Acantholimon are common in steppe and rocky areas. The Anatolian diagonal is home to about 400 species found nowhere else.

How flowers are used in Turkey

Turkey has a long history of plant use. The region was an early center for the cultivation of wheat and other crops. Mediterranean shrublands and forests have been cleared for agriculture and grazing. Tea is widely grown on the humid slopes of the eastern Black Sea. Some wild plants are collected for food, and edible mushrooms are abundant.

Threats and protection in Turkey

Deforestation and heavy grazing have changed much of Turkey's natural vegetation, especially in the Taurus Mountains and coastal areas. Many forests have been replaced by shrubland or farmland. Some endemic plants are at risk due to habitat loss. Conservation efforts include protected areas and reserves, but pressures from agriculture and development remain strong.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Flora of Turkey", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Flower experiences in Turkey

All 2
🇹🇷 Isparta · May to JunRose harvest in IspartaTurkey's rose province, where damask roses are picked at dawn for oil in May and June. 🇹🇷 Isparta · Jul to AugKuyucak lavender villageA small village in Isparta province surrounded by purple lavender fields in July.

Cities and regions of Turkey

Anatolia 2Adana 1Amasya 1Ankara 1Bahçeköy 1Constantinople 1Edirne 1Gallipoli Peninsula 1Istanbul 1İzmir Province 1Kırklareli 1Kütahya 1Lake Van 1Mahmut Mountain 1Merzifon 1Sarıyer 1west Turkey 1
ShowFlowersDecorationsPlaces
ColourRedPinkOrangeYellowWhiteCreamBluePurpleGreenMaroonMany-coloured
In flowerSpringSummerMonsoonAutumnWinter
PeachPrunus persica A flowering fruit tree from China, grown for its pink blossoms and sweet fruit 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Flowering tree PomegranatePunica granatum A shrub with bright red flowers and a fruit full of edible seeds 🇮🇷 Iran and 9 more · Flowering shrub TulipTulipa Spring-blooming bulbs with showy, cup-shaped flowers in many colours 🇳🇱 Netherlands and 7 more · Wildflower Sour cherryPrunus cerasus The small, tart cherry tree grown for its sour red fruit 🇹🇷 Turkey and 7 more · Flowering tree Bay laurelLaurus nobilis Evergreen tree with aromatic leaves used as bay leaf in cooking 🇬🇷 Greece and 9 more · Flowering tree Bitter orangeCitrus × aurantium The citrus tree behind Seville orange marmalade and Neroli oil 🇨🇳 China and 6 more · Flowering tree ElderSambucus nigra A tall shrub or small tree with clusters of white flowers and dark berries 🇩🇪 Germany and 6 more · Wildflower PoinsettiaEuphorbia pulcherrima The red-bracted shrub of Christmas displays, native to Mexico and Central America 🇲🇽 Mexico and 8 more · Wildflower Crocus Small corm-grown flowers in white, yellow, orange or purple 🇹🇷 Turkey and 7 more · Wildflower Horse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanum A large flowering tree known for its white spring blooms and shiny brown conkers 🇦🇱 Albania and 7 more · Flowering tree Common IvyHedera helix An evergreen climbing vine with lobed leaves and nectar-rich autumn flowers 🇮🇪 Ireland and 7 more · Wildflower HyacinthHyacinthus A spring-blooming bulb with fragrant, colourful flower spikes 🇹🇷 Turkey and 7 more · Bulb flower SnowdropGalanthus White bell-shaped flowers that bloom at the end of winter 🇹🇷 Turkey and 7 more · Wildflower MallowMalva Edible and ornamental flowering plants with pink, purple or white blooms 🇮🇳 India and 6 more · Wildflower Orchis A group of wild orchids with tuberous roots from Europe, North Africa and Asia 🇹🇷 Turkey and 7 more · Wildflower Mourning irisIris susiana A rare iris with large, spotted flowers once found in the mountains of the Middle East 🇱🇧 Lebanon and 2 more · Wildflower Tulipa agenensis A wild red tulip from the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East 🇹🇷 Turkey and 6 more · Wildflower Iberian irisIris iberica A rare, boldly veined iris from the Caucasus steppes 🇬🇪 Georgia and 4 more · Wildflower Ophrys sphegodes subsp. tauricaՍարդակիր Մեղվակիր, xarı-bülbül, ფუტკრის-დედა A rare wild orchid from the Caucasus and nearby regions 🇦🇲 Armenia and 7 more · Wildflower Eichler tulipTulipa eichleri A rare deep red tulip from the Caucasus and Iran with a dark central blotch 🇬🇪 Georgia and 4 more · Wildflower Scarlet runner beanPhaseolus coccineus A climbing bean with bright red flowers and edible pods and seeds 🇲🇽 Mexico and 7 more · Wildflower Leucojum White-flowered bulbs of damp meadows and shady gardens 🇪🇸 Spain and 6 more · Wildflower Decoration language of flowers A way of sending secret messages using flowers and their meanings 🇹🇷 Turkey and 6 more · Custom Glory of the snowChionodoxa Small spring bulbs with blue, pink or white star-shaped flowers 🇹🇷 Turkey and 4 more · Wildflower Consolida Annual larkspurs grown for their spurred flowers in pink, blue, purple and white 🇹🇷 Turkey and 6 more · Wildflower Decoration Corn dolly Straw figures shaped for harvest customs across Europe 🇮🇪 Ireland and 3 more · Flower craft Sweet-amberHypericum androsaemum A small shrub with yellow flowers and berries that ripen from red to black 🇵🇹 Portugal and 7 more · Flowering shrub Bee orchidOphrys apifera A wild orchid with flowers that mimic the look and scent of a female bee 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 7 more · Wildflower Star-of-BethlehemOrnithogalum umbellatum A white, star-shaped spring flower that opens late in the day 🇫🇷 France and 7 more · Wildflower Bells of IrelandMoluccella laevis Tall green spikes with bell-shaped calyces, grown for fresh and dried arrangements 🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 more · Garden flower Yellow horned poppyGlaucium flavum A coastal poppy with bright yellow flowers and long horn-shaped seed pods 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 6 more · Wildflower Sea kaleCrambe maritima Salt-loving coastal plant with edible white-flowered shoots 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 7 more · Wildflower Eryngium A spiny-leaved plant with blue or white flower heads, grown in gardens and used in cooking 🇲🇽 Mexico and 7 more · Wildflower JonquilNarcissus jonquilla A spring-flowering daffodil with narrow leaves and sweet-scented blooms 🇪🇸 Spain and 6 more · Wildflower Painted daisyTanacetum coccineum A colourful daisy grown for gardens and natural insect repellent 🇮🇷 Iran and 8 more · Wildflower Lavandula pedunculata A wild lavender with purple bracts, native to Iberia, Morocco and western Turkey 🇲🇦 Morocco and 1 more · Wildflower Decoration Nowruzنوروز Spring New Year festival marked by fire, greenery, and festive gatherings 🇮🇷 Iran and 9 more · Custom, March Decoration Hıdırellez Spring festival marking the meeting of Hızır and İlyas, celebrated on May 5–6 🇹🇷 Turkey and 8 more · Custom, May German irisIris × germanica A tall, rhizome-rooted iris with showy bearded blooms in many colours 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Garden flower Decoration Butaبوته A curved floral motif found in Persian, Indian, and Central Asian art and textiles 🇮🇷 Iran and 5 more · Art or design Tulipa suaveolens Wild Eurasian tulip with bowl-shaped flowers in many colours 🇷🇺 Russia and 6 more · Wildflower Armenian tulipTulipa armena A wild tulip from the Armenian Highlands with many forms and colours 🇦🇲 Armenia and 4 more · Wildflower Sprenger's tulipTulipa sprengeri A bright red wild tulip from Amasya, Turkey, once thought extinct 🇹🇷 Turkey and 2 more · Wildflower Orange wild tulipTulipa orphanidea A copper-red wild tulip from the Balkans and western Turkey 🇧🇬 Bulgaria and 2 more · Wildflower Fritillaria persica A tall bulb plant with deep purple to greenish-brown bell flowers from the Middle East 🇹🇷 Turkey and 7 more · Wildflower Crocus ancyrensisAnkara çiğdemi A small orange-yellow crocus native to North and Central Turkey 🇹🇷 Turkey · Wildflower Giant snowdropGalanthus elwesii A tall, early-blooming snowdrop from the Balkans and Asia Minor 🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 more · Wildflower Place Atatürk Arboretum A large arboretum and research garden in Istanbul's Bahçeköy district Sarıyer, 🇹🇷 Turkey · Botanical garden
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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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