Birthday
HydrangeasEgypt brings to mind desert and the Red Sea, yet a green valley runs along the Nile that fed one of the oldest civilisations. Flowers and plants mattered enormously there: they were painted on temple walls, placed in tombs and offered to the gods. Here are the plants linked with Egypt and where to see its gardens today.
Elegant flowers delivered: imported roses and flowers in a box.
Sacred plants of ancient Egypt
- Blue lotus. A water lily that opens in the morning and closes in the evening. Egyptians linked it with the sun and rebirth, making it one of the most common motifs in their art.
- Papyrus. A tall sedge with a tufted head whose stems were made into the famous writing material. Papyrus was the emblem of Lower Egypt and the lotus of Upper Egypt.
- Floral collars. In Tutankhamun’s tomb, archaeologists found ornaments of leaves, berries and flowers that had survived for more than three thousand years.
Where to see Egypt’s gardens
- Kitchener’s Island, Aswan. A small island in the Nile turned into a garden of tropical trees and palms in the late 19th century, reached by felucca.
- Al-Azhar Park, Cairo. A large modern park built on a former rubbish dump, with fountains, lawns and views over historic Cairo.
- Al-Orman Garden, Cairo. A historic botanical garden that hosts a flower show in spring.
- The Red Sea. In Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh the main “bloom” is underwater: coral reefs with hundreds of species of fish.
The best time to visit is October to April, without the punishing heat. For other countries, see flower etiquette around the world and flower parks and plantations.
FAQ
Which flower symbolised ancient Egypt?
The lotus, especially the blue lotus. It stood for the sun and rebirth and was the emblem of Upper Egypt.
Where is Egypt’s botanical garden?
The best known is on Kitchener’s Island in Aswan; in Cairo, visit Al-Orman Garden and Al-Azhar Park.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
