Black roses often appear in movies about witches, dark magic or horror movies, but few people know that this flower actually exists. On the outside, they appear to be dark black, but in fact, they are dark red.
The black rose blooms only in summer in very small quantities and is a specialty of the village of Halfeti, Turkey. The unique soil conditions of this area give the flower its unique black color, similar to that of a deep red wine. Over the past decade, the flower has become popular in Türkiye, giving its name to numerous products such as television series, novels and perfumes.
Black roses often appear in movies about witches, dark magic or horror movies, but few people know that this flower really exists.
On the surface, they appear to be dark black, but are actually dark red.
In Turkish, the black rose is called “karagul”. This flower symbolizes mystery, intensity and hope, but also has dark and deadly meanings. So, although the black rose is loved by many, it is also stigmatized because of its dark meaning.
More and more tourists are flocking to Halfeti to see the legendary black roses. In late spring, when the weather warms up, the small town becomes bustling with tourists.
The Halfeti black rose is also known as the "Arabian bride" or "Arabian beauty".
As the rose business in Türkiye continues to grow, the people of Halfeti are trying to turn the black rose into a brand. Today, the heart of Türkiye’s rose growing industry is in Isparta province, which is also known as the country’s “rose garden.” Türkiye and Bulgaria account for 80% of the global rose oil market.
In Halfeti, many farmers have seen the potential of the black rose and are expanding their farms. Previously, although this particular rose only grows in Halfeti, there was a period when people here did not care much about it. The flowers grew in gardens but no one paid any attention.
Perched right on the banks of the Euphrates River, Halfeti looks like something out of a landscape painting. Emerald-green waters surround timeless stone structures built into steep hills.
The town of Halfeti, the only place in the world where black roses can be grown.
However, few people know that in the 1990s, when the Birecik Dam was built, people left Halfeti, causing this flower to become almost extinct. After the Birecik Dam was completed, Halfeti village and some surrounding villages were submerged under the Euphrates River. The new Halfeti village was built in Karaotlak, 10 km away from the old village. This migration had a great impact on the survival of the black rose. When people tried to replant it in the new place, they found that the flower could not adapt to the different environment, leading to a sharp decrease in production.
An official in charge of rose conservation said that local people were indifferent to the black rose and did not know that it was a unique flower. According to the official, they moved the black roses to higher ground and planted them in greenhouses. In the highlands of Halfeti, a greenhouse managed by the town's agricultural department grows 1,000 roses. Professor Ali Ikinci from Sanliurfa University said that currently, 20 different varieties of black roses have been recorded in the world, of which 16 are native to Türkiye.
Harvesting and drying of black roses takes place in a greenhouse in Halfeti, Şanlıurfa, Türkiye.
Halfeti residents have wanted to turn this rare rose into a brand since Türkiye's rose growing and trading sector has "blossomed"
According to Professor Ikinci, the karagul black rose would have a deeper color and stronger fragrance if grown in an area about 60 kilometers south of Halfeti, near the border with Syria. The black rose also grows better on higher ground, because the soil near the Euphrates River is said to be more acidic.
Now Halfeti residents want to turn this rare rose into a brand since the rose growing and trading sector in Türkiye has “blossomed”. Some gardeners are actively promoting the black rose to tourists who come to the town to explore famous places, especially underwater museums.
The iconic Halfeti rose blooms only in spring and autumn, Halfeti, Şanlıurfa, Türkiye.
The unique beauty of black roses can only be seen in the Halfeti district of Şanlıurfa, Türkiye.
Adnan Aydin, a resident of the town for decades, said Halfeti used to be a rich agricultural area until the Birecik dam was built, causing the Euphrates River to swell and flood the entire area. Aydin believes that tourism will improve the lives of local people, but in the past they were completely self-sufficient.
“People used to live off livestock and agriculture. Everyone had their own orchard and earned income from it,” Mr. Aydin shared.
The western province of Isparta, known as the “rose garden” of Türkiye, dominates the rose growing and trading sector. Türkiye and Bulgaria currently supply about 80% of the world’s rose oil.
