Discover Syria’s National Flower: Damask rose

Did you know that there’s a flower from Damascus that traveled across the world, carrying with it the scent of Syrian soil? The Damask rose, or ward al-jouri, Syria’s National Flower, is a symbol of love, heritage, and homeland.

From the heart of Damascus, this rose began its journey. It bloomed in the orchards of Ghouta, then moved with caravans east and west, to India, Turkey, Egypt, and Europe. Wherever it went, it told the story of Syria. So unique was its charm that UNESCO, in 2019, recognized it as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Not Just a Rose… A History and a Story

The rose inspired poets and writers. Shakespeare admired it and wrote, “as lovely as a Damascene rose.” And Nizar Qabbani, the poet of Damascus, said: I am your Damascene rose… People of Sham… So he among you who finds me… let him place me in the first vase.

A Scent from Memory

Every May in Damascus, the rose becomes a celebration. At dawn, families head to the orchards, gathering baskets filled with blossoms. They sing, laugh, and celebrate what they call the Rose Festival. From these flowers, Syrians prepare rose water, rose jam, refreshing rose drinks, and rose oil—so precious that one drop is worth more than gold. Did you know it takes about 600 roses to make just one liter of rose oil? No wonder it’s the secret behind the world’s finest perfumes.

A Flower of Magic and Honor

History, too, remembers this flower. When Saladin liberated Jerusalem, he carried 500 camels loaded with rose water from Damascus to cleanse the city. Caliph Al-Mutawakkil once declared: “I am King of Kings, and it is the Queen of Roses. We belong to each other.”

Damascus… The Land of Roses and Jasmine

Syria is not only the land of roses—it’s also the land of Damascus Jasmine. This white blossom climbed the walls of old houses, wrapped around windows and doorsteps, and became one of the city’s most beloved symbols. Its fragrance filled every street, every home, until Damascus earned its nickname: the City of Jasmine.

Nizar Qabbani once wrote: “Damascus taught me the alphabet of jasmine.” He even wished to be buried there, “in the soil where the jasmine of Damascus once blossomed.”

The Flower Exhibition… Damascus’s Green Festival

Out of this love for flowers, Syria created its first International Flower Exhibition almost 50 years ago, back in 1973, at Al-Jahiz Park, then later at the Sheraton Gardens. Today, the festival blooms every year at Tishreen Park, where flower lovers from Syria and around the world gather.

Two Roses Represent a Country

Two flowers, the rose and the jasmine, represent more than plants. They are memory, identity, and the fragrance of a homeland. Wherever you are in the world, if you smell jasmine or see a Damask rose, you’ll be reminded of Syria—its houses, its alleys, its people.

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