Identifying plants mentioned in the Bible has always been difficult. This is partly because people often think that plants like elm, sycamore, lily, rose, and vine in the Bible are the same as modern plants with these names. Also, people sometimes assume that all plants growing in the Holy Land today were there in biblical times. Or, people sometimes assume that all plants mentioned in the Bible can still be found there today.
Unfortunately, many plants that are common in the Holy Land today did not exist there during biblical times. On the other hand, many plants that once grew abundantly in that area are now extinct. Some plants disappeared because foreign species invaded their habitat. Others have been eliminated or nearly eliminated because of too much farming, the cutting down of forests, and the resulting changes in climate and other environmental conditions.
At one time, the region was full of palm trees. The date palm was as common and typical there as it was in Egypt. Today, the date palm is much less common in the region. Similarly, in ancient times, tall cedar trees covered the slopes of Lebanon and other mountain ranges. Now, the few remaining cedar trees must be carefully fenced in to protect them from being trampled and eaten by goats.
Specific types of plants are listed below. Click on a plant listed below to access the full-length article.
Types of Plants
Acacia: A thorny tree or bush that grows in hot, dry areas, especially in the deserts of the Sinai Peninsula and the Jordan River Valley.
Acanthus: A flowering plant with large, spiny leaves that was used as a design pattern in ancient Greek and Roman architecture.
Algum: A rare, valuable wood from trees that King Solomon imported for building the temple in Jerusalem.
Almond: A tree that produces edible nuts and is one of the first trees to bloom in spring in the Middle East.
Almug: A precious wood imported by Solomon, likely sandalwood, used for making pillars and musical instruments.
Aloe: A desert plant with thick, spiky leaves that produces a healing gel used for medicine and perfumes in biblical times.
Apple: A round fruit with crisp flesh that grows on trees throughout the Mediterranean region.
Apricot: A small, orange fruit with a large seed that is similar to a peach.
Aromatic Cane: A species of fragrant reed used by the Israelites as a perfume.
Ash: A type of tree that grows in many parts of the world, including the Middle East.
Aspen: A tree with heart-shaped leaves that tremble in the slightest breeze.
Balm: A fragrant resin from trees in Gilead that was used for healing wounds and as a valuable trade item.
Barley: A grain crop that ripens earlier than wheat and was a staple food for common people in biblical times.
Bdellium: A yellowish, fragrant resin that resembles wax and was compared to the appearance of manna in the Bible.
Bean: A nutritious vegetable that grows in pods and was commonly eaten in ancient Israel.
Bitter Herbs: Edible plants with a sharp, unpleasant taste that were eaten during Passover to remember the bitterness of slavery in Egypt.
Boxthorn: A thorny shrub with small red berries that grows in dry regions of the Middle East.
Box Tree: An evergreen tree with dense wood that was used for fine carvings and musical instruments.
Bramble: A thorny, wild shrub that produces berries and appears in Jotham's fable about choosing a king.
Broom: A desert shrub with small leaves and white flowers that provides shade.
Buckthorn: A thorny shrub or small tree with berries that grows in the Mediterranean region.
Bush: A general term for a low-growing, woody plant with multiple stems.
Buttercup: A small, bright yellow flower that grows in fields throughout the Middle East.
Calamus: A sweet-smelling cane plant used as an ingredient in the sacred anointing oil described in Exodus.
Cane, Sweet Cane: A tall grass plant grown for its sweet sap.
Caper Plant: A small shrub that grows from rocky cracks, producing edible flower buds used for seasoning.
Carob Tree: A large evergreen tree that produces long, edible pods.
Cassia: A cinnamon-like spice used in the holy anointing oil and as a fragrant perfume in biblical times.
Castor Oil Plant: A plant with large leaves and seeds that produce oil.
Cedar: A tall, fragrant evergreen tree from Lebanon that was highly prized for building temples and palaces.
Chicory: A blue-flowering plant with a root that can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute.
Cinnamon: An aromatic spice made from tree bark that was used in the holy anointing oil and as a perfume.
Citron Tree: An evergreen tree that produces large, lemon-like fruits.
Coriander: An herb with seeds that were compared to manna in the Bible and used as a spice in cooking.
Cotton: A plant that produces soft fibers used for making cloth.
Cucumber: A vegetable that grows on vines and was one of the foods the Israelites remembered eating in Egypt.
Cummin: A small plant with aromatic seeds used as a spice and mentioned by Jesus when speaking of tithing.
Cypress: A tall, cone-shaped evergreen tree valued for its durable, aromatic wood used in shipbuilding and construction.
Dandelion: A common plant with yellow flowers and puffy seed heads that grows throughout the Middle East.
Darnel Grass: A weed that closely resembles wheat until it matures.
Dill: A fragrant herb used for flavoring food and mentioned by Jesus in his teachings about tithing.
Ebony: A dark, heavy wood imported from Africa or India that was highly valued for decorative purposes.
Endive: A leafy vegetable with a slightly bitter taste that may have been among the bitter herbs eaten at Passover.
Fig, Fig Tree: A tree that produces sweet fruits and appears frequently in the Bible as a symbol of peace and prosperity.
Fir Tree: An evergreen tree whose wood was used alongside cedar in building Solomon's temple.
Flax: A plant with blue flowers whose stems provide fibers for making linen cloth and whose seeds produce linseed oil.
Frankincense: A valuable, fragrant resin burned as incense in worship and brought as a gift to baby Jesus.
Galbanum: A strong-smelling gum resin used as an ingredient in the sacred incense of the tabernacle.
Gall: A bitter, poisonous plant used in the Bible to symbolize poison, suffering, or God’s judgment.
Garlic: A bulb with a strong smell and flavor that the Israelites remembered eating in Egypt.
Hedge: A fence made of living plants used to protect fields and vineyards.
Henna: A plant whose leaves yield a reddish-orange dye used for coloring hair, skin, and fabric.
Hyacinth: A spring-flowering bulb plant with clusters of fragrant flowers.
Hyssop: A small bush used for sprinkling blood or water in purification rituals.
Juniper: An evergreen shrub or small tree whose shade protected Elijah as he fled from Jezebel.
Leek: A vegetable with a mild onion flavor that the Israelites remembered eating in Egypt.
Lentil: A small, round seed from a plant in the bean family.
Lettuce: A leafy vegetable that may have been among the bitter herbs eaten at Passover.
Lily: A beautiful flowering plant known for their bright colors and pleasant smell.
Lotus Bush, Lotus Tree: A thorny desert shrub that provided food and shade in wilderness areas.
Mallow, Saltwort: A plant with edible leaves that was gathered by the poor for food during times of famine.
Mandrake: A plant with roots resembling human figures that was believed to help with fertility.
Melon: A sweet, juicy fruit with a hard outer skin and many seeds inside.
Millet: A small-seeded grain used to make bread, especially during times of scarcity.
Mint: A fragrant herb used for flavoring food and mentioned by Jesus in his teachings about tithing.
Mulberry: A tree that produces dark, blue-purple berries that people can eat.
Mustard: A plant that grows from a tiny seed into a large bush.
Myrrh: A valuable, fragrant resin used in perfumes, medicines, and burial preparations.
Myrtle: An evergreen shrub with fragrant leaves and white flowers.
Narcissus: A bulb plant with fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that blooms in the spring.
Nard, Spikenard: An expensive perfume made from the roots of a Himalayan plant.
Nettle: A plant covered with stinging hairs that grows in neglected areas.
Nutmeg Flower: A plant whose black seeds were used as a spice and possibly mixed with bread dough.
Oak: A large, long-lived tree that often served as a landmark and meeting place in biblical times.
Oil Tree, Oleaster: A small tree similar to an olive but with smaller, less valuable fruit, used for making oil.
Oleander: A poisonous flowering shrub that grows near wadis (dry stream beds) in the Middle East.
Olive, Olive Tree: A tree that produces oil-rich fruits central to the diet, economy, and religious life of biblical Israel.
Onion: A bulb vegetable with a strong flavor that the Israelites remembered eating in Egypt.
Palm, Date Palm: A tall tree with a crown of large leaves that provided food, shade, and building materials in biblical times.
Papyrus: A tall water plant whose stems were used to make writing material, boats, and the basket that carried baby Moses.
Pine Tree: An evergreen tree whose resinous wood was used in construction.
Pistachio Tree: A large tree that produces edible nuts. It is closely related to the Terebinth.
Plane Tree: A large shade tree with mottled bark that sheds in patches, mentioned in Ezekiel's riddle.
Pomegranate: A fruit with many seeds that decorated Solomon's temple and symbolized fertility and abundance.
Poplar: A tall tree with trembling leaves that Jacob used in his breeding of livestock.
Prickly Alhagi: A small shrub that grows in dry, rocky places that produces a sweet from its leaves and stems.
Quince: A yellow, aromatic fruit similar to an apple that may have been the "apple" mentioned in some Bible passages.
Reed: A tall grass growing near water that was used for making pens, measuring rods, and musical instruments.
Rue: A strong-smelling herb used for medicinal purposes and mentioned by Jesus in his teachings about tithing.
Rush: A water plant similar to a reed, used for making baskets, mats, and the ark that carried baby Moses.
Saffron: A valuable spice made from crocus flower stigmas, mentioned in the Song of Solomon as a fragrant plant.
Sage: An aromatic herb used for flavoring food and for medicinal purposes.
Spelt: A grain similar to wheat but with a tougher husk, used for making bread in ancient times.
Storax Tree, Sweet Storax: A tree that produces a sweet-smelling resin used in perfumes and possibly as an ingredient in holy incense.
Sweet Bay Tree, Bay Laurel: An aromatic evergreen tree whose leaves were used for flavoring food and making victory wreaths.
Sycamore: A tree that produces fig-like fruits and has wood used for building.
Tamarisk: A small, fast-growing tree or shrub with strong, durable wood.
Terebinth: A large tree with thick branches. It is closely related to the Pistachio Tree.
Thistle, Thorn: Prickly plants used in the Bible as symbols of the curse on the ground and of worthless people or teachings.
Tulip: A spring-flowering bulb plant with cup-shaped flowers.
Tumbleweed: A plant that breaks off at the root when mature and is blown by the wind.
Vegetable: Any edible plant part grown in gardens.
Vine, Wild Vine: A vine is any plant with a flexible stem that climbs, twines, or spreads along a surface or support.
Walnut: A tree that produces nutritious nuts enclosed in a hard shell.
Water Lily: A flowering plant that grows in ponds and slow streams throughout the Middle East.
Wheat: A grain crop harvested after barley and used to make bread.
Willow: A tree or shrub with long, narrow leaves and flexible branches.
Wild Gourd: A climbing plant with bitter fruits.
Wormwood: A bitter plant used as a symbol of sorrow and divine judgment in the Bible.