Red Greece

Greece "unoffical" Flower question: Please tell me what flower you would like to best represent Greece?

Hi everyone. I need your advice and your blessing on a decision that I have to make. Thanks to the wonderful members here. I have learned that Greece does not have a "national" flower. That does not mean that I should leave a BLANK space for Greece in my blog. :(( So please tell me what FLOWER or flowering plant that you feel is best for Greece. It must grow there, that is the only requirement that I ask. The flower or plant that is mention the most will be the one chosen. [For those who do not know where this questions came from here is were it all started] http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Au84JD8r1WbVhiU6sB7jrxPty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080223004204AAZxL6U Thank you in advance :))) I also want to put this Wikipedia post up. It was found by FaR. And from WikiAnswers: "Truth is Greece has no set national flower or bird......While the most famous varieties of flora in the Greek nation are the 'violet', 'laurel', and the 'Bear's breech', none have been adopted as the national flower" Thank you FaR for your help. :) Un beso por ti. (>^_^)> <(^_^<) I would like your opinion on an "UNOFFICIAL" flower or flowering plant. The flower or plant that is mention the most will be the one chosen. Thank you Sofia J I found the plant you called "Vasilikos" it is the Ocimum basilicum. It leaves are used here in California by the Vietnameses community as a special ingredient in their famous Vietnameses soup called PHO! Yummy, I the leaves have a rich taste and they do have a nice aroma smell. :-) http://www.kynigos.net.gr/bees/fyta/pics/vasilikos.jpg http://www.kynigos.net.gr/bees/fyta/mel_fyta.php

Public Comments

1. There are only national leafs. Greece has a national bird, it's the double headed eagle! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_army http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_the_Byzantine_Empire.svg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Palaiologos-Dynasty-Eagle.svg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-headed_eagle Edit: ok then, unoffically speaking I chose the opium because we use to export it in antiquity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium Edit2: I agree with dvatwork about the jasmine.
2. The olive tree.
3. Geraniums.
4. The flower of Greece should be the jasmine. I love walking in Greece and smelling that scent in the most unexpected places. The aroma is intoxicating.
5. Chamomile is a very common flower and makes a very therapeutic drink we all drunk growing up when sick. Another one is the poppy. I will always remember the fields covered with red poppies
6. Greece 'IS' a flower, so it is very difficult to make a choice amongst all flowers I have seen.. and those I hope to see in the nearby holidays. However, for the flower and the meaning of the name towards Greece, this is my favorite. I found it on the small island of Kythera.. the Sempreviva little beauty http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2226443970015470341IjOpsT I enjoy this exchange of ideas on flowers of Greece; and I love olives, but then again olive trees are spread all over the Med.. and I do not consider them a flower... ever smelled the blossom of the the oranges in south-east Peloponnese mid-May?.. they are unique..
7. There is no doubt that the plant that most refpresents Greece is the Olive tree. Sorry you're right there is no flower, just the twig with a few olive leaves and an olive!
8. As far as I know the Olive tree is the most characteristic plant of Greece however the Oleander -Ltn: Nerium oleander- Gr:Pikrothaphni- is also a very characteristic flower. You see it every where and it was used to crow artists in the Artistic Games in ancient Greece.
9. Greece does have national flower......It is the violet........ Some of the replies on the original question were correct, and yes the Greek for the plant is Ion (like the chocolate!) and from Ion we get Ionia!
10. It would be the honeysuckle and moonflower.These flowers grow everywhere and everyone appreciates their fine aroma and beauty.
11. Jasmine or violets. Certainly. I long to smell them in the Spring.
12. The smell of flowers in Greece in everywhere. I agree with the others that answered jasmine, that's true its a very common flower in Greece. But what almost every house has is Vasilikos. It smell perfect, and it is not the flower that has the smell but the leaves. But it makes flowers too. So you can call it a flower. Every house in the country, or at the balconies of the cities is most probable to find a pot with Vasilikos inside. I am not sure of the name in english, this is the Greek name of it, but if it was up to me to decide.... I would definitely have chosen that. I hope I helped