Abigail Klein Leichman
March 3, 2020, Updated April 2

If it’s March, it means Israelis are outdoors admiring the fields of pink, purple, red and yellow made up of their favorite wildflowers — kalanit (anemone), rakefet (cyclamen), narkis (narcissus), tourmus (lupine) and pereg (poppy).

This year, thanks to abundant winter rains, the flowers are especially plentiful and magnificent, says Elisha Mizrahi of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF). There’s a plethora of stunning Israeli wildflowers, biblical plants, and more to see.

“Experts are collecting online data of where and when fields are flowering,” Mizrahi tells ISRAEL21c. “We have sightings of rare desert flowers that you only see every 25 years. For some of our kids it’s the first time they’ve seen certain flowers in the Negev and Judean deserts. Every week there’s a new species flowering.”

Rugged beige desert hills in Sde Boker are sprinkled with purple wildflowers, creating a striking contrast. The rocky backdrop adds to the dramatic and serene natural scenery under a clear sky.
A rare and unusual bloom of flowers near Sde Boker, in the Negev Desert this March. Photo by Gali Har Toov

For those who read Hebrew, this website meticulously lists multiple destinations for seeing wildflowers in Israel. Every Friday in March, the tourism department of the Judea Regional Council offers walking tours to see the flowers and birds (Hebrew only).

If you can’t be here in person, enjoy new gorgeous wildflower photos posted daily on KKL-JNF’s Facebook page and on the Israeli Facebook group Botanicalovers.

But most importantly, continue reading to discover the bests sites for where to see flowers in Israel this spring.

Top 10 places to see spring flowers in Israel

Not sure where to see flowers in Israel? We suggest these 10 spots to see flowers in Israel growing wild this spring.

  1. Darom Adom
  2. Lupine Hill
  3. Sataf
  4. Carmel Nature Reserve (“Little Switzerland”)
  5. Mount Gilboa
  6. Duda’im Forest
  7. Cyclamen Hill at Tal Shahar
  8. Dead Sea and environs
  9. Iris Reserve, Netanya
  10. Golan Heights

1. Darom Adom – Scarlet South Festival

A vibrant field of red poppies scattered across green grass, interspersed with rocks. In the background, a line of trees under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Blooming flowers near Kibbutz Dvir in southern Israel, February 2020. Photo by Anat Hermony/Flash90

The annual Darom Adom – Scarlet South Festival in the northwestern Negev is produced in conjunction with KKL-JNF. A variety of activities are usually planned along with free tours through the red carpets of anemones in the Reim Recreation Area and the Ruhama Forest.

If you miss the festival, it’s still worth a trip to see the brilliant colors through April.

“After a difficult period of fires caused by airborne arson attacks from Gaza, the entire northern Negev region has been renewed with a green coat covered with magnificent carpets of red anemones that bear no trace of the blackened scars,” according to KKL-JNF.

2. Lupine Hill

A meadow with vibrant purple lupines and scattered yellow wildflowers against a backdrop of lush green grass. The scene conveys a sense of natural beauty and tranquility.
View of Lupine Hill in the Elah Valley. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

South of Beit Shemesh in the Elah Valley, Givat Hatourmasim (Lupine Hill) is awash with purple lupine and many other species are also in full bloom. Go early on Friday, or on any other day of the week, to avoid crowds. You’ll also see anemones growing everywhere on the northern side of the road.

3. Sataf

Close-up of pink cyclamen flowers with their distinctive upturned petals and rounded green leaves. Some flowers are in full bloom while others are buds. The background features green foliage and blurred rocks.
Cyclamen flowers blooming on February 17, 2020. Photo by Gershon Elinson/Flash90

Almond trees and cyclamens are in bloom this time of year at Sataf, a hiking and nature preserve to the east of Har Eitan on the western fringes of Jerusalem.

Cyclamens, in shades from white to dark pink, are also called Solomon’s Fire because they look like clusters of flame shooting up from rocks and shady areas.

4. Carmel Nature Reserve (“Little Switzerland”)

A vibrant yellow and red striped tulip lies on a dark, textured surface of dried leaves and bark. The rich colors of the flower contrast with the muted, earthy tones of the background.
A striped tiger tulip. Photo via Shutterstock.com

Large lupines and irises are blooming across the Carmel region now, but the truly rare sight to see is the special tulip variety of this area: yellow-and-brown striped “tiger” tulips that are unusually large.

The main entrance to the reserve is near the University of Haifa. In May you’ll see the unique lilies.

5. Mount Gilboa

Two children closely observe vibrant purple irises in a garden. The flowers are in full bloom, and the children show curiosity and fascination, with one child gently touching a petal. The background features greenery and soft sunlight.
Israel’s famous Gilboa Iris. Photo by Yossi Zamir/Flash90

This hill in the Beit She’an Valley is famous for its incredible irises. In fact, the Gilboa Iris was chosen as the symbol of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel and it is getting more scarce for reasons not well understood. Peak season is mid-March.

6. Duda’im Forest

Close-up of a dark purple-black iris flower with textured, velvety petals, set against a blurred green background of leaves and other flowers.
An iris in Duda’im Forest. Photo by Shmuel Shantall

The exotic black Negev (or Judean) iris grows in this KKL-JNF grove near Beersheva, as well as on the field road between Tze’elim and Gvulot farther south, says Mizrahi.

7. Cyclamen Hill at Tal Shahar

This pine-tree-shaded spot in the Ramot Menashe Park near the Elyakim Interchange in the Megiddo area features a short walking trail where visitors come to see multicolored cyclamens and lupines blossoming in early spring. Signs along the trail provide information about these flowers.

8. Dead Sea and environs

A scenic view of the dead sea with distant mountains under a partly cloudy sky. In the foreground, a grassy field is dotted with red flowers, creating a vibrant and serene landscape.
Flowers blossoming in the Judean Desert. Photo by Mila Aviv/Flash90

Yes, we know the Dead Sea would seem to be an odd place to find fragrant blooming life, but in fact this March the area between Qumran and Ein Gedi – and the entire Judean Desert — is chockfull of flowers that haven’t poked up their heads in years. You can thank those blessed rains, because this is one of the best places to see Israeli desert flowers bloom.

9. Iris Reserve, Netanya

Huge bouquets of beautiful irises await you at the Iris Reserve south of Netanya, close to the beach. The rare and impressive flowers here bloom in February through March, attracting thousands of visitors. The grounds also boast a sculpture park.

10. Golan Heights

A group of people walk through a vast field of purple wildflowers under a cloudy sky. In the background, there are rolling green hills and mountains.
People enjoy blooming flowers in the Golan Heights, northern Israel. Photo by Flash90

The northeast corner of Israel has its own six or seven species of irises, tulips and orchids. This is the last area to bloom because it is the coldest. The best times to view the beauty are late March and early April.

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