Kazakhstan’s tulip valley comes alive with spring bloom

The Tien Shan foothills and the Pamir-Alay mountains form a major center of diversity for tulips and other wildflowers. Southern and southeastern Kazakhstan is considered home to numerous wild tulip species, the ancestors of modern varieties known worldwide.

Tulip cultivation is believed to have begun in ancient Iran, then spread to the Ottoman Empire, and later to Europe, particularly the Netherlands, where tulip varieties were widely cultivated and eventually spread worldwide.

Today, the Zhambyl region is in full bloom with Greig’s tulips (Tulipa greigii), a rare endemic species listed in Kazakhstan’s Red Book. The valley is covered with vibrant blossoms, creating a spectacular, colorful landscape. Every spring, this natural phenomenon draws visitors from around the world.

Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported that with the arrival of spring, unique and rarely seen plants had begun to bloom throughout the Yertis Ormany reserve.