Erbil Bazaar Beautified With Evergreen Trees and Red Flowers

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Nearly 60 evergreen bottlebrush trees have been planted along the street in front of Sirwan Markets in Erbil's bazaar, as municipal officials begin a phased effort to introduce more greenery into the capital's crowded commercial center.

Rawan Ismail Abubakr, Director of Parks Engineering, told Kurdistan24 on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, that the trees were planted the previous day and had been selected for their bright red flowers, relatively modest height and ability to tolerate the city's climate.

"Our aim is to increase the percentage of green space, particularly in central Erbil. That is why we selected this type of tree, which produces red flowers and gives the capital an attractive appearance," Abubakr said.

The planting is concentrated initially on the street outside Sirwan Markets, but the municipality intends to extend the scheme to other principal streets throughout the bazaar.

Because the area is busy with shoppers, traders and traffic, officials plan to carry out the work in stages rather than planting across the entire market at once.

Abubakr said the trees are expected to reach approximately 2.5 to 3 meters in height, making them suitable, in the department's assessment, for streets where overhead electricity lines may limit planting options.

He also described the species as capable of withstanding very hot summers and cold winter conditions.

"These trees grow to only around 2.5 to 3 meters in height, so they do not create problems with overhead electricity lines.

They are also well suited to Erbil's environment and can withstand temperatures of 55 to 60 degrees Celsius, as well as temperatures as low as two degrees below zero," he said.

Those temperature and growth characteristics were provided by the director as reasons for the selection.

The municipality has not specified the expected survival rate of the newly planted trees or how long they may take to reach their mature size and produce substantial flowering displays.

The choice of location also presents a practical maintenance challenge.

With limited space and substantial daily activity around the market, young trees may be exposed to accidental damage. Watering them consistently will be necessary if the initial planting is to develop into a lasting addition to the streetscape.

To address that concern, the Parks Engineering Directorate has arranged for businesses immediately beside the trees to take responsibility for their care, while municipal teams monitor the planting sites.

"Because of the congestion in the bazaar and the possibility of damage, we have assigned responsibility for protecting and watering the trees to the shopkeepers whose businesses are located in front of them. Municipal monitoring teams in the area will also continue following up on the growth of the trees," Abubakr explained.

He appealed to residents and shopkeepers to help safeguard the trees and keep their surroundings clean.

The arrangement places part of the routine upkeep in the hands of the people working closest to the planting sites, with municipal oversight intended to ensure that the trees continue growing.

The director did not provide the overall budget for the initiative, the projected number of trees to be planted in later stages or a timetable for extending the scheme to every bazaar street. For now, the first group of nearly 60 trees represents the visible beginning of the broader plan.

The bazaar planting follows another municipal beautification development announced on Monday.

Erbil Mayor Karzan Hadi, accompanied by municipal officials including the Director of Parks Engineering, inaugurated the second phase of a decorative lighting system along the city's 60-Meter Road.

The Erbil Municipality Presidency said the upgraded system uses energy-efficient lighting intended to improve the road's appearance at night. It also indicated that lighting and decorative work would continue on other major roads and public spaces across the capital.

The two initiatives address different parts of Erbil's urban environment: the new lighting focuses on a major thoroughfare, while the bottlebrush planting introduces greenery into a dense commercial district. Neither announcement included measurements showing how much green cover or energy savings the completed measures would ultimately deliver.

In the bazaar, officials say the next steps will depend on phased planting and continued cooperation from businesses and residents. The immediate focus remains protecting the newly planted trees so their red flowers and evergreen foliage can become a permanent feature of central Erbil.