Digital Anthology | A Journey through the Plants of the SNFCC

Occupying 85% of the SNFCC, Stavros Niarchos Park features olive trees, laurels, cypresses, carob trees, and over 160 species of Greek shrubs, herbs, and bulbs.

Cistus is a perennial shrub with fragrant, resinous foliage and silky pink or white flowers that bloom in late spring. Drought-tolerant and rich in polyphenols and labdanum, it has been used since antiquity in perfumery and medicine.

At Stavros Niarchos Park, two species grow: Cistus × aguilarii ‘Maculatus’ and Cistus creticus ‘Bali’. Bee-friendly, its flowers provide pollen and nectar, while its resins help bees produce propolis. Cistus also supports the local microclimate and blooms after fire.

Rue, or Herb of Grace, is an evergreen, drought-tolerant Mediterranean shrub that blooms from June to August, reaching 60–90 cm in height. At Stavros Niarchos Park, it follows Euphorbias in late spring, offering blue-green foliage and bright yellow flowers.

True Myrtle (Myrtus communis) is a fragrant evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean. Found by the Canal and in Stavros Niarchos Park, it charms with delicate foliage, white summer blooms, and aromatic blue-black berries.

Sacred to Aphrodite, it symbolizes beauty and immortality and still adorns weddings today. A golden myrtle wreath (c. 330 BC) from Vergina reflects its lasting cultural significance.

In the Vegetable Garden of Stavros Niarchos Park, we rest under the shade of the Common Fig (Ficus carica – Kalamata), a perennial tree from the Mulberry family. Native to the Mediterranean, it thrives even in poor soils.

On an autumn walk along the western paths of Stavros Niarchos Park, we spot fruit-bearing pomegranates. Native to Central Asia, the pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a deciduous tree from the Lythraceae family, introduced to the Mediterranean in the 16th century.

It grows up to 7m tall, with bright green lanceolate leaves and thorny shoots. Its orange-red flowers bloom from May to August, pollinated mainly by insects, and give way to red, spherical fruits rich in seeds.

Native to the Mediterranean, it may have originated in Syria and can live over 1,000 years. It bears fruit on the previous year’s growth, often showing alternating high and low yields. In ancient Greece, olive oil was so valuable it became a state monopoly.

Every December, the SNFCC lights up with festive joy as the plane trees along the Canal glow and reflect in the water.

Still today, people gather under its shade, and in Kos, children hug it on Sept 1st to gain its strength. A symbol of tradition, healing, and community, the plane tree stands tall through time.

March at the SNFCC brings the scent of spring—and rosemary. Found across the Mediterranean Garden, Green Roofs, and Esplanade, rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an evergreen, aromatic shrub known for its blue-purple flowers and tea-like scent.

In May, the Mediterranean Garden lights up with the bright lemon-green blooms of the Wulfen Mediterranean Spurge (Euphorbia characias ssp. wulfenii), also known as Tithymalo. A perennial shrub of the Euphorbiaceae family, it thrives in rocky Mediterranean terrain.

Every July, blooming Provence Lavender (Lavandula x intermedia “Julien”) fills the SNFCC with soft purple hues and fragrance. This perennial shrub, part of the Labiatae family, grows 30–80 cm tall with narrow grey-green leaves and corn-like flower spikes.

Named after the Latin lavāre (“to wash”), lavender thrives in dry, calcium-rich soils and is cultivated across Europe, including many regions in Greece.

The Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo), or Koumariá, is an evergreen Mediterranean shrub known for its decorative beauty and medicinal properties.

Broccoli and cauliflower are nutrient-rich “superfoods,” high in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. Kale, once overlooked, now shines for its impressive health benefits and culinary appeal. These humble vegetables link us to ancient traditions and modern nutrition alike.

Though modest in appearance, its tiny silver-cream flowers fill the air with a sweet aroma in late autumn. Its leaves add gray and silver tones to the park, sometimes with yellow highlights in the panaché variety.

The Laurustine (Viburnum tinus) is an evergreen shrub popular in landscaping for hedges and flower beds.

It has shiny dark green leaves and blooms in winter with long-lasting, fragrant cream-colored flowers that begin as pink buds and mature into purple fruits in summer. At Stavros Niarchos Park, you’ll find both Viburnum tinus and its compact cultivar “Eve Price.”

Native to the Mediterranean, Laurustine thrives in many soils, tolerates drought, and supports wildlife by providing shelter and nectar for pollinators and birds.

The Daffodil (Narcissus) is a perennial bulbous plant from the amaryllis family, known for its striking flowers that bloom in late winter, heralding spring.

The flower inspired the ancient Greek myth of Narcissus and has influenced art across cultures—from classical paintings to Art Nouveau and surrealism—symbolizing vanity, rebirth, and beauty.

The artichoke thistle, a member of the Asteraceae family, grows in Stavros Niarchos Park’s Vegetable Garden with spiny silver foliage. Its edible buds are harvested before blooming into striking violet-purple flowers favored by bees.

It also inspired Poul Henningsen’s iconic “Artichoke” lamp, known for its organic form and light diffusion.

Each flower lasts one day, but plants produce hundreds, ensuring yearly blooms. Known since ancient times for its medicinal opiates, the poppy symbolizes sleep, death, and remembrance—especially for fallen soldiers.

Celebrated in art by Georgia O’Keeffe and Suzuki Kiitsu, wild poppy populations now face decline from modern agriculture.

A member of the Asteraceae family, marigolds love sunlight and drought. Though native to Latin America, they now thrive globally. Bees and butterflies are drawn to their edible flowers.

The curry plant (Helichrysum), a sun-loving Mediterranean shrub in the sunflower family, thrives in the dry landscapes of Stavros Niarchos Park. Its golden-yellow flowers shine in full sun, while its gray leaves help it retain moisture.

Tomatoes star in the summer Vegetable Garden at Stavros Niarchos Park, where the local Chondrokatsarí variety ripens bright red in July.

Coolatai grass (Hyparrhenia) is a dense perennial used in landscape design for its texture, movement, and seasonal color shifts.

Traditionally, it was used in weaving, basketry, and even temple decoration. In ancient Greece, it also served as fuel.

Despite its name, it’s unrelated to true sage (Salvia). Its Latin name reflects its pale foliage. In September, it bursts into vivid bell-shaped purple flowers, ranging from magenta to lavender.

Known as a "barometer plant," it blooms most intensely with moisture following dry weather. With minimal care, it helps prevent soil erosion and adds rich color to the Park’s landscape.

The Carob is an evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean, thriving even wild in southern Greece. At Stavros Niarchos Park, its glossy, dark green leaves offer cool shade, and this season, visitors can see its fruit: long pods that mature to brown and hold the tree’s seeds.

Historically linked to periods of austerity, the Carob has fed both humans and animals from ancient times to modern hardship. It’s also fire-resistant, helping prevent the spread of wildfires—an invaluable asset in Mediterranean landscapes.

Among the most cherished flowers, the rose symbolizes love and beauty. At Stavros Niarchos Park, near the Vegetable Garden, visitors in summer can admire the Bengal Rose (Rosa chinensis ‘Mutabilis’), a striking Asian variety.

Its fruit, rich in vitamin C, is loved by birds and used in teas, syrups, and cosmetics for its nourishing properties.

The Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), also known as five-leaved ivy, is a deciduous vine native to northeast Asia. Its distinctive five-part leaves shift from green to vibrant orange and burgundy in autumn.

The plant climbs using spiral tendrils with adhesive pads, covering walls and reaching up to 20 meters high. While its grape-like berries are toxic to humans, they’re a valuable winter food source for birds.

Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is a hardy deciduous shrub from China, known for blooming in late winter, just before spring. Its bright yellow flowers bring vivid contrast to the muted landscape and symbolize resilience and hope.

At Stavros Niarchos Park, Winter Jasmine cascades like a golden waterfall over the green roofs of the Greek National Opera and SNFCC parking.

Unlike other jasmine varieties, it lacks a strong fragrance but stands out with its early blossoms and graceful arching branches. Flowering during the coldest months, it offers a cheerful, optimistic presence in the garden when most other plants lie dormant.

April at Stavros Niarchos Park brings the striking presence of Acanthus, or Bear’s Breeches, a perennial plant known for its dark green, glossy, deeply lobed leaves.

Revered since antiquity, Acanthus leaves inspired the Corinthian column’s ornate capitals, famously designed by Callimachus.

Symbolizing eternal growth and renewal, Acanthus appears in Greek art, reliefs, and jewelry—its dynamic forms evoking the rhythms of nature and the elegance of classical architecture.

Frog Fruit is a low-growing, flowering plant from the Verbenaceae family, valued for its ornamental appeal and dense, low-maintenance ground cover.

Its nectar-rich blooms attract many native pollinators—especially butterflies—making it both beautiful and beneficial.

Salvia, a perennial herb in the mint family, thrives in Stavros Niarchos Park, offering fragrant leaves year-round and striking blooms this season. With over 900 species and many hybrids, Salvia adds visual variety and texture to Mediterranean gardens.

Near the Dome and in the Mediterranean Garden, visitors will find Salvia chamaedryoides, ‘Allen Chickering,’ and Salvia microphylla var. neurepia. Its flowers, in shades from magenta and red to pink and blue, bloom in elegant clusters that enhance the landscape.

Beyond its beauty, Salvia attracts pollinators like bees, moths, and butterflies—vital to the ecosystem and biodiversity—making it both ornamental and ecologically important.

With over 4,000 years of cultivation, it remains a plant of beauty, history, and meaning.

Found worldwide, with over 100 species, Pines thrive in tough conditions. In the Park, species like Scots and Aleppo Pine provide beauty and shade. Valued for timber, resin, and essential oils, Pines have long supported human needs.

In Greek mythology, the nymph Pitys was transformed into a pine tree to escape Pan—linking the tree to purity and protection. Pines also support ecosystems and prevent erosion. Their evergreen presence offers peace and natural beauty, even in the heart of winter.