Turkey in Flower: Istanbul Tulips, the Rose Fields of Isparta and Lavender

Many people are surprised to learn that the tulip is as much a Turkish symbol as a Dutch one. These flowers reached Europe from the Ottoman Empire, and today Istanbul plants them by the million every spring. Here is where to see flowers in Turkey and the place they hold in its history.

Tulips and roses delivered: tulips and garden roses.

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Tulips: from the sultans to Holland

Wild tulips grow in the mountains of Central Asia, and it was in the Ottoman Empire that they were first cultivated as garden flowers. In the 16th century the bulbs reached Europe, where the famous tulip mania soon followed. The early 18th century in Ottoman history is even called the Tulip Era, a time of passion for gardens, festivities and the arts.

• Istanbul Tulip Festival. In April the city’s parks and streets, especially Emirgan Park on the Bosphorus, become carpets of flowers.
• The roses of Isparta. Known as the city of roses, Isparta grows the Damask rose for rose oil. The flowers are picked early in the morning in May and June.
• Kuyucak lavender village. The fields near this village in Isparta province bloom in July and have become a favourite photo spot.

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Planning a flower trip

• April. Istanbul and its tulips, warm but not yet hot.
• May and June. The rose harvest in Isparta and the flowering steppes of Cappadocia.
• July. Lavender in Kuyucak and oleanders in bloom along the coast.
• What to bring home. Rose water and oil, rose Turkish delight, and bulbs only in certified packaging.

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We cover tulips in detail in tulip varieties and colours, and gardens elsewhere in famous gardens of the world.

FAQ

Did tulips really come to Europe from Turkey?

Yes. Garden tulips reached Europe from the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, while wild species originate in Central Asia.

When is the Istanbul Tulip Festival?

In April; peak bloom depends on the weather and usually falls in the middle of the month.

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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.