Tall perennials are impressive dominants of country flower beds. What grows in the mountains Flowers are found high in the mountains

Plants in mountainous regions, where the climate is sometimes harsh and the soils are infertile, for the most part do not please the eye with forbs. However, among the mountain flowers there are so beautiful that legends are made about them. Take edelweiss, lavender, violet, Vancouver... There are many other flowers growing on stones that are quite suitable
to create compositions in the style of " natural garden" And, of course, many plants growing in the mountains are ideally suited for decorating rockeries and alpine slides.

Photos of mountain flowers and their names are widely presented on this page.

Beautiful plants of mountain areas

Azorella (AZORELLA). Celery family.

Azorella three-forked (A. trifurcata)- a mountain perennial plant from the temperate zones of the mountains of New Zealand. Low “pillows” (height 5-15 cm) are composed of rosettes of beautiful wintering, heavily cut leaves.

The flowers are white-green, small, inexpressive.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with well-drained, rocky, but fairly humus-rich neutral soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring), dividing the bush (in spring and late summer), cuttings (in summer).

Armeria (ARMERIA). Lead family.

These are mainly plants of the Mediterranean mountains. Low bushes (10-20 cm) with numerous linear dark green leaves in a dense basal rosette.

Pay attention to the photo of these mountain flowers: the peduncle of Armeria ends in a capitate inflorescence of small pink or purple flowers.

Types and varieties:

Armeria seaside(A. maritima) and its varieties:

"Alba", "Rosea"

"Splendens".

Armeria alpine (A. alpina)- smaller whitish inflorescences, height 15 cm.

Armeria soddy (A. caespitosa)- the lowest, compact (6 cm).

Armeria plantain (A. pseudarmeria)- height 30 cm.

Growing conditions. Sunny locations with well-drained, poor, acidic soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing before winter), dividing the bush (spring, August), cuttings with a heel. Transplantation is carried out once every 2-3 years, juveniles. Planting density - 16 pcs. per 1 m2.

They are planted in rock gardens and in the foreground in flower beds. They stand well as cut flowers. Combine with low sedums and creeping phlox.

Alyssum alyssum. The cabbage (cruciferous) family.

About 100 species of these flowers grow in the mountains of Southern Europe and Siberia. This low growing plants(10-30 cm), forming dense bushes of small leaves and flowers collected in a dense brush. Alyssum can be annual or perennial.

Kinds:

Mountain alyssum (A. montanum)- bushes 10 cm high, small gray-green leaves, yellow flowers, blooms in May.

Alyssum silver(A. argenteum)- height 30-40 cm, leaves are grayish-green, flowers are yellow in a racemose inflorescence, blooms in June-July.

Alyssum rocky (A. saxatile = Aurunia saxatile)- strongly branched shoots form a bush 20-30 cm high, leaves are felt-silver, yellow flowers in a dense raceme, blooms in May-June.

Varieties:

"Nitrinum"- height 30 cm, “Compactum” - 20 cm.

"PLenum"- 30 cm.

Used in rock gardens and flower beds in the border.

Growing conditions. Sunny locations with well-drained sandy soils, neutral or alkaline.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring). Seedlings bloom in the second year. Propagation by stem cuttings after the end of flowering. Planting density - 16 pcs. per 1 m2.

Astilbe (ASTILBE). Saxifraga family.

The name of this mountain plant comes from the Greek words - “very” and stilbe - “shine” and is given to the plant because of its shiny leaves. In nature, astilbe grows in mountain forests East Asia And North America. But mainly varieties of hybrid origin are cultivated, united under the name Arends astilbe (A. x arendsii), 60-100 cm high. The plants have a thick, branched, superficially located rhizome, from which in the spring numerous thin but strong stems emerge, bearing beautiful pinnate -dissected shiny leaves (often reddish in spring) and ending in an openwork paniculate inflorescence of small flowers of different colors (except yellow and pure blue).
In total, about 200 varieties of astilbe are known, which are divided into 12 groups depending on their origin.

Types and varieties:

Group I: Astilbe x arendsii with purple-lilac inflorescence, height 80-100 cm.

Group II - hybrids astilboides (Astilboides hybrida), composed of old varieties (for example, “BLondine”).

III group - low-growing hybrids astilbe chinensis (A. chinensis "Pumila"), variety "FinaLe" - purple-pink.

IV - hybrids astilbe curly (A. crispa), miniature plants with strongly dissected leaves (for example, “Perkeo” - 20 cm high, with dark pink flowers).

V - Astilbe hybrid (A. x hybrida), varieties not included in other groups: “America” - 70 cm high, with light purple inflorescences.

VI - Japanese hybrids (Japonica Hybrida), low (30-40 cm), compact, early flowering, inflorescence - loose raceme: “DeutschLand” with white flowers, 50 cm tall.

VII - Lemoine hybrids (Lemoine hybrida), old varieties, for example white "MontbLan".

VIII - Pink hybrids (Rosea Hybrida)- “Peach Blossom”.

IX - hybrids astilbe simplefolia(A. simplicifolia) with drooping inflorescence: "DunkeLLachs" with dark pink flowers.

X - Astilbe Take (A. taquetii): “Superba” - 100 cm tall, pink.

XI - Astilbe Thunberg(A. x thunbergii- Thunbergii Hybrida)- about 100 cm high, the inflorescence is loose, branched: “Prof. Van der WieLen" with white flowers.

XII group – hybrids astilbe naked (A. glaberrima hybrida)- heat-loving astilbes.

Growing conditions. If watered, they grow well in any light, but in full light the flowering time is shortened. Therefore, it is better to plant astilbe in shade and partial shade, on moist clay fertile soils. It responds well to mulching in the fall with peat or rotted wood chips.

Reproduction. Propagated by dividing the bush (in spring) and in early spring- renewal bud with part of the rhizome (with a “heel”). The buds are planted in a greenhouse with sand and peat, where they quickly take root and by autumn form a rhizome and several shoots. Planting density - 7-9 pcs. per 1 m2.

Astilbe - best decoration shady flower garden. It can be planted on the north side of the house, where it is dark, humid and other plants do not bloom.

Look at the photo of these mountain flowers: astilbe looks great against the backdrop of low-growing ground cover plants (greenweed, jasmine, tiara, etc.) and in the border of flower beds. It is not recommended to plant it in rock gardens, where, under conditions of good drainage, it dries out quickly.

All astilbes are consistently ornamental plants, practically undamaged by diseases and pests. Their peculiarity is that they grow quickly after damage caused by spring frosts.

Bukashnik (JASION). Campanula family.

Low-growing (25-30 cm) mountain perennial with a spherical bush and capitate inflorescence.

Types and varieties:

Perennial beetle (J. perennis), variety: “Blau Licht” - bright blue flowers.

Mountain beetle (J. montana) And smooth (J. laevis)- lilac flowers.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with well-drained soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring) and dividing the bush (in spring and late summer). Self-seeding may occur. Planting density - 16 pcs. per 1 m2.

Use in sunny rockeries and borders.

Waldsteinia (WALDSTEINIA). Rosaceae family.

Perennials (about 5 species) from mountain forests of Eurasia and North America. The leaves are large, three-lobed, dense in the basal rosette, and often overwinter. They grow in thickets 15-35 cm high due to above-ground stolons ending in young rosettes. The flowers are bright yellow, shiny. Flowering in spring is long and abundant.

Types and varieties:

Waldsteinia trifoliate (W. ternata) And gravilate-shaped (W. geoides)- height 15 cm, leaves are large, wintering.

Waldsteinia strawberry (W. fragarioides)- leaves are similar to strawberry leaves.

Growing conditions. Shady areas with loose soils. These flowers, growing in the mountains, are unpretentious and form a perennial ground cover.

Reproduction. By dividing the bush, with young rosettes (at the end of summer). Planting density - 16 pcs. per 1 m2.

What other plants grow in the mountains

Showerweed (CALAMINTHA. Lamiaceae family).

Shower large-flowered (C. grandifiora)- creeping low (30-50 cm) perennial growing in the mountain shady forests of Central Europe and the Caucasus. In June-August it blooms with small purple flowers collected in whorls.

Growing conditions. Shaded rocky areas.

Reproduction. By dividing the bush (spring), stem cuttings (summer). Planting density - 9-12 pcs. per 1 m2.

Used as part of a flower garden, in mixborders, and also for cutting. Used in green teas, as a flavoring and for medicinal purposes.

Cyclamen, dryer (CYCLAMEN). Primrose family.

"Blue Perfection"- blue, "Molly Sanderson"- dark.

They grow in shady gardens fragrant filla (V. odorata) with creeping stems forming a “carpet” of wintering rounded leaves, the flowers are small, there are varieties with flowers of different colors (white - “Christmas”, purple - “Red Charm”, etc.), very fragrant, bloom from the end of April.

Reichenbach violet (V. reichenbachiana)- a plant of broad-leaved forests of Europe, a bush 20-35 cm high, overwintering leaves, small, purple flowers, forms mass self-seeding.

Growing conditions. Sunny and semi-shaded areas with rich, loose soils.

Reproduction. By dividing the bush after 3-4 years (August) and seeds (sowing before winter), the seedlings bloom in the 2nd year. They often self-sow.

Rhodiola (RHODIOLA). Crassulaceae family.

A numerous genus, species of which grow in the mountains of Eurasia and North America. Rhizomes are thick, superficial; leaves are bluish, thickened. All species grow well and form perennial patches (small thickets).

Look below at the photo of flowers growing in the mountains, each of them is beautiful in its own way.

Types and varieties:

Rhodiola heterodentata (R. heterodontha)- height 15-20 cm, leaves rounded.

Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea)- height 30-40 cm, leaves are linear, rhizome becomes bright pink when damaged.

Rhodiola Semenova (R. semenovii)- height up to 60 cm, green leaves, yellow flowers.

Rhodiola entirefolia (R. integrifolia)- height 35-40 cm, pink flowers.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with loose, well-drained soils, Rhodiola does not tolerate stagnant moisture.

Reproduction. By seeds (sown in spring), seedlings bloom in the 3rd-4th year. By dividing rhizomes (after the end of flowering) and stem cuttings (in spring). Planting density - 9 pcs. per 1 m2.

Bryozoan, sagina (SAGINA). Clove family.

Low-growing perennials with needle-shaped leaves, forming low “pillows” of strongly branching graceful shoots. The flowers are small and bloom for a long time. Tap root. Plant from the rocks of the mountains of Europe.

Types and varieties:

Bryozoan awl-shaped (S. subulata)- very low (5 cm), rapidly growing “pillows”, variety “Aurea” - golden leaves.

Bryozoan saginoid (S. saginoides)- height 10 cm, forms dense “pillows”.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with poor sandy soils do not tolerate stagnant moisture.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring); cuttings (summer). Young plant, replant after 3-4 years. Planting density -25 pcs. per 1 m2.

Krupka, draba (DRABA). The cabbage (cruciferous) family.

A large (almost 300 species) genus, species of which grow in mountains throughout the world. These are mainly low-growing (10-15 cm) plants with pubescent linear leaves in rosettes, cushion-shaped. The flowers are small in a racemose inflorescence, white or yellow.

Types and varieties:

Krupka evergreen (D. aizoides) And mossy (D. bryoides).

Brunieleaf semolina (D. bruniifoia)- plants that form low (5-15 cm) dense “cushions” of grayish-green wintering leaves, flowering early (April).

Siberian Krupka (D. sibirica)- forms a thicket of higher (20 cm) shoots.

Growing conditions. Sunny locations with poor, well-drained soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring) and stem cuttings (after the end of flowering). Planting density pcs. per 1 m2.

(CERASTIUM). Clove family.

A rocky perennial that forms clumps of shoots with silvery leaves. Height is about 30 cm, small white flowers.

Types and varieties:

alpine jasmine (C. alpinum) And Bieberstein's prick(C. biebersteinii).

Grandiflora grandiflora (C. grandiflorum).

Felt cleaver (S. tomentosum), the most interesting variety is “Silver Carpet”.

Growing conditions. Sunny locations with well-drained, poor (rocky or sandy) soils.

Reproduction. Sowing seeds in spring (seedlings bloom in late summer) or summer cuttings. The plant is young and needs to be replanted every 3-4 years. Planting density - 12 pcs. per 1 m2.

Spring mountain flowers and photos of flowers in the mountains

Below are the names of mountain flowers that bloom in spring.

Vesennik (ERANTHIS). Ranunculaceae family.

Spring-blooming low perennials with tuberous roots. There are 7 known species growing in forests and subalpine zones of the mountains of Europe and East Asia.

The leaves are graceful, palmately divided, on long petioles, dying off at the end of May (ephemeroids). The flowers are solitary, white or yellow, of petal-shaped sepals with three teeth; under the flower there is a whorl of deeply dissected leaves. Height 20-25 cm.

Types and varieties:

Winter vesennik (E. hyemalis)- plant of the forests of Europe, yellow flower.

Star spring (E. stellata)- plant from the Far East, white flower.

Siberian Vesennik (E. sibirica)- plant of southern Siberia, yellow flowers, flowers.

Vesennik Tubergen (E. x tubergenii)- varieties “Glory”, “Guinea Gold”.

Growing conditions. Shaded areas under the tree canopy with loose forest soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing freshly harvested, self-seeding is possible) and dividing rhizomes (after the end of flowering). Planting density - 25 pcs. per 1 m2.

Gentian, gentian (GENTIANA). Gentian family.

A large (about 400 species) genus of perennial herbs of varying heights, growing in the mountains of almost all continents. Many species are decorative, almost all of them are difficult to cultivate (this is a mycorrhizal plant). But the beauty and brightness of their flowers, especially blue ones, attract gardeners.

Types and varieties:

Gentiana stemless (G. acaulis) And spring (G. verna)- low (8-10 cm) bushes with large bright blue flowers, blooming in May-June.

Gentian seven-parted(G. septemfida) And rough (G. scabra).

Gentiana dahuriana (G. dahurica) form bushes 3040 cm high, bloom with blue flowers in July-August.

Gentian yellow (G. lutea)- a tall plant (up to 110 cm) with large yellow flowers, blooming in August.

Gentiana swallowtail (G. asclepiadea)- about 80 cm high, blooms in July-August.

Blooms later than others (in September) Chinese gentiana decorated (G. sinoornata), forming a low bush (15 cm) with bright blue flowers with green stripes.

Growing conditions. All gentians are mountain plants that prefer sunny areas with fertile, well-drained soils with normal moisture. It is recommended to add crushed stone or pebbles mixed with humus.

Gentians are difficult to grow because the seeds germinate poorly, seedlings fall out a lot, and adult plants react negatively to division and replanting. There are exceptions, but they are rare.

Brunner (BRUNNERA). Borage family.

These plants are represented in nature by only three forest species, two of which are cultivated. They are also called “perennial forget-me-nots”, since they are spring mountain flowers, which are low (30-40 cm) bushes with ground-level heart-shaped leaves on long petioles and a paniculate inflorescence of small bright blue flowers.

Types and varieties:

Brunnera macrofolia (B. macrophylla)- plant of the mountain forests of the Caucasus. Forms a dense, slowly growing bush, a variety with silver spots on the leaves - “Longtris”.

Brunnera sibirica(B. sibirica)- a plant of the Altai forests, has a long, thick, branching rhizome, therefore it forms thickets.

Growing conditions. The plants are undemanding, but prefer shady and semi-shady places with rich soil and moderate moisture.

Reproduction. Seeds (form mass self-seeding) and sections of rhizomes at the end of summer. Planting density - 9 pcs. per 1 m2.

Rare Vancouver mountain flowers

Vancouveria (VANCOUVERIA). Barberry family.

Vancouveria sixstamena (V. hexandra)- perennials from the mountain forests of the western United States. These are low (25-30 cm) plants with long rhizome(therefore they form thickets), the leaves are light green, dense (but not overwintering), trifoliate on thin, hard petioles. The flowers are white in an openwork inflorescence.

Growing conditions. Shady areas under a canopy of broadleaf trees whose foliage covers the Vancouver bush in the fall. Any soil, but well drained.

Reproduction. By dividing the bush (at the end of summer). Planting density - 16 pcs. per 1 m2.

Vancouveria are rare mountain flowers from California, little known in cultivation. This ground cover plant naturally forms dense, large patches. In cultivation in central Russia, it grows slowly: the growth of each specimen per year is no more than 2-3 cm. But the gardener’s patience will be duly rewarded. Firstly, Vancouver bushes live for a very long time - up to 40 years. Secondly, its trifoliate leaves and delicate white flowers attract attention with their originality. In addition, this herbaceous ornamental perennial is highly drought-resistant and shade-tolerant, so it is recommended for shaded areas and rockeries. Does not set seeds in cultivation.

As can be seen in the photo, these mountain plants are often used in shady rockeries to create ground cover on tree trunks.

Beautiful mountain edelweiss flower and its photo

Edelweiss (LEONTOPODIUM). Family Asteraceae (Asteraceae).

Mountain perennial low-growing (20-25 cm) herbs with curved branched stems and a basal rosette of lanceolate leaves.

Look at the photo of mountain edelweiss: flowers in small baskets form a corymbose inflorescence. The whole plant is pubescent, grayish-silver.

Types and varieties:

Edelweiss alpine (L. alpinum)- rocks of the Alpine belt of the European mountains.

Edelweiss Siberian (L. leontopodioides)- steppes and rocky slopes of Siberia.

Edelweiss Palibina (L. palibinianum)- dry meadows of Primorye.

The last two species are more stable in conditions middle zone Russia.

Growing conditions. The mountain edelweiss flower grows in sunny areas with rocky or sandy soil enriched with lime. Good drainage is required.

Reproduction. This beautiful one is propagated mountain flower dividing the bush (in spring or late summer) and stem cuttings (in May-June). Divide and replant every 2-3 years.

Mountain plants: mountain lavender flower

Lavender (LAVANDULA). Family Lamiaceae (Labiaceae).

Lavender angustifolia (L. angustifoiia)- subshrubs from the mountain slopes of the Mediterranean. This is a beautiful mountain plant with bushes 50-60 cm high, covered with dense, hard peduncles bearing a terminal spike-shaped inflorescence of small bluish flowers. The mountain lavender flower has narrow silvery leaves. The whole plant exudes a pleasant aroma.

Varieties:

"ALba", "Dwarf BLue"

"Minstead", "Rosea".

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with loose, lime-enriched soils, well drained, without stagnant moisture. An important condition for good condition is annual spring pruning bushes.

Reproduction. Seeds (sowing in spring), cuttings. Planting density - 12 pcs. per 1 m2.

Herbaceous plants growing in the mountains

Catnip, catnip (NEPETA). Family Lamiaceae (Labiaceae).

Herbaceous perennials or subshrubs growing in the mountains of the Mediterranean, Caucasus, and Central Asia. The root is thick, taproot, the stems are numerous, rigid, lodging, branched. Leaves with silvery pubescence.

The flowers are small in a spike-shaped panicle. Long-lasting flowering – 2–3 months; the plant has a strong, lemon-like odor that repels pests and purifies the air.

Types and varieties:

Catnip (N. cataria)- blue flowers.

Fassin's catnip (N. x faassenii)- lilac flowers, varieties: “Snowflake”, “Six Hills Giant” - 50 cm high.

Catnip grandiflora(N. grandiflora)– blue.

Catnip Musina (N. mussinii) And Siberian (N. sibirica)- height 80 cm.

Growing conditions. Sunny locations with rich, well-drained soils enriched with lime.

An excellent plant for mixborders (planting in the foreground), in the border, on the lawn, in rockeries, and flower gardens. Dried flowers are used as flavoring agents.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring), cuttings (in summer). Planting density - 9 pcs. per 1 m2.

Muscari, mouse hyacinth, viper bow(MUSCARI). Hyacinth (lily) family.

Small bulbous plants, 60 species of which grow in the mountains of the Mediterranean. The bulb is light ovoid, the leaves are linear basal; the flowers are tubular, small, in a dense racemose inflorescence. Height 15-20 cm. In some species, leaves grow in autumn and overwinter.

Types and varieties:

Muscari Armenian (M. armeniacum)- blue flowers with white teeth.

Muscari pale (M. pallens)- the flowers are almost white.

Muscari grapevine (M. botryoides)- flowers are dark blue.

Muscari racemosus (M. racemosum)- dark purple flowers and other types.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with loose fertile soils.

Reproduction. Muscari form a mass of baby bulbs, so they grow quickly. The bulbs are dug up after the end of flowering, dried and planted in the soil at the end of August. Planting density - 30 pcs. per 1 m2.

Scopolia (SCOPOLIA). Solanaceae family.

Scopolia carniolina (S. carniolica)- plant of mountain forests of Central and Southern Europe. Grassy rhizomatous perennial 60-80 cm high, forming a beautiful spreading bush of straight leafy stems. The flowers are dark red-brown, solitary, drooping.

Growing conditions. Shady areas with loose, fertile soils and moderate moisture.

Reproduction. By dividing the bush (in spring and late summer). Planting density is single.

Tsitserbita (CICERBITA). Family Asteraceae (Asteraceae).

Perennial rhizomatous herbs with single erect stems, growing in the mountain forests of the Caucasus, Siberia, and Central Asia. The stem contains beautiful lyre-shaped leaves, thin, green on top and bluish below, the petiole of the leaf is winged. The stems (height 100-120 cm) end in a branched inflorescence of rather large bright blue baskets. Interesting with original leaves and late (before frost) flowering. The plants are still little known in cultivation, but are promising for use in landscape-style flower beds.

Types and varieties:

The most interesting are the cicerbites and their bluish-violet flowers: the Tien Shan cicerbita (C. thianschanica) - from Central Asia and the alpine cicerbita (C. alpina) - from the Carpathians.

Tsitserbita uralensis (C. uralensis) And large-leaved (C. macrophylla)- from the Caucasus.

All of them are stable in culture and are even capable of forming mass self-seeding.

Growing conditions. Shaded and semi-shaded areas with any sufficiently moist soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing before winter or spring) and dividing the bush (in spring). Planting density - 5 pcs. per 1 m2.

Incarvillea (INCARVILLEA). Bignoniaceae family.

The genus contains 14 species growing in Central Asia and Western China, on sunny mountain slopes, in the forest belt. Herbaceous perennials have a thick tap root and a basal rosette of pinnate, lyre-shaped, dense dark green leaves. The peduncles are straight, bearing a terminal racemose inflorescence of 3-5 large tubular flowers, similar to gloxinia. The plants are very impressive.

Types and varieties:

Incarvillea delawaya (I. deiavayi)- height 30 cm, large flowers (4-6 cm in diameter), varieties: “Purpurea”, “Snowtop”.

Incarvillea dense (I. compacta)- height 15 cm, flowers are large (up to 8 cm), purple with a yellow throat.

Incarvillea grandiflora (I. grandifiora)- height 60-80 cm.

Incarvillea Olga (I. oigae)- height up to 150 cm, branched peduncles, small flowers (2 cm in diameter) in paniculate inflorescence.

Growing conditions. Sunny places with loose, light, fertile, well-drained soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sown in spring), seedlings bloom in the 3rd-4th year. Vegetative propagation is difficult, possibly due to leaf cuttings in June-July. Plants are unstable in central Russia and can fall out in harsh winters, so it is safer to lightly cover them with spruce branches.

The flora of the mountains, where the climate is too harsh for trees, consists only of low herbaceous plants.

High mountain vegetation

Here are magnificently beautiful alpine meadows, which rise into the tundra, somewhat reminiscent of the northern one. The highest ridges are covered with white caps of eternal snow and glaciers.
Plants growing in the mountains tend to be very low, which allows them to be less exposed to wind and to hide from harsh conditions under the protection of stones or in rock cracks. Plants of the same species often grow close to each other, forming cushions; other species, such as the alpine breaker, are spherical in shape. There are also species whose leaves form a rosette at soil level or are tightly pressed to the stem, like giant lobelia in Africa. All these devices make it possible to create a warmer microclimate near the plant’s ground organs (the air temperature there is sometimes 10 °C higher than the surrounding air) and, if possible, to protect from the wind.

Wind has a mechanical effect on plants (trees and shrubs often bend), as well as a drying effect, since it increases water loss through transpiration from the surface of the leaves. This is of great importance for plants, since they often do not have enough water (the soil freezes and water becomes unavailable). To limit water loss through evaporation, mountain plants develop the same adaptations as species in the arid zone; as a rule, these are small leaves with a thick impermeable coating or pubescence.

The period of snow cover in the highlands is long, leaving very little time for plant development. This is why most mountain plants are perennials (live for several years). In winter, they are dormant in the form of underground organs (bulbs, rhizome tubers). Thanks to the reserves they contain nutrients they quickly form new stems as soon as conditions become favorable.

Edelweiss and gentian are the most famous alpine flowers. But there are many other beautiful flowers and plants adapted to harsh climatic conditions (low temperatures, harsh winds, a large number of precipitation, lack of soil for nutrition and even its complete absence).
At a considerable altitude in the mountains, there are alpine meadows with a bright, variegated carpet of flowers, captivating the eye with the beauty of their shapes, colors and shades. Why are alpine flowers so bright? Firstly, pigments protect against strong ultraviolet radiation, secondly, the bright color and unusually strong smell of flowers is a kind of “advertising” for pollinators. As you know, high in the mountains, depending on weather conditions, there is not such a wide variety of insects, so alpine flowers try to attract them with their color and smell.

Plants growing in pastures are very well adapted to such living conditions. For example, most of them have hard, spiny stems and leaves. As you know, cattle do not eat such grasses, so these plants have a greater chance of reproducing.
But delicate and succulent plant species, such as orchids, settle only on inaccessible mountain ledges, where they are protected from the attention of grazing animals, such as chamois or alpine goats, which, with their exceptional agility, cannot reach plants located on a steep surface.

Edelweiss. Photo: 石川 Shihchuan

Moraines (the area left by a glacier after it melts) are crushed and mixed material of sand, pebbles, clay and fine earth. Despite the scarcity of soil, some types of alpine plants adapted very well to such conditions. At first, moraines are populated by a few frost-resistant mosses and lichens, which can exist with a minimum of nutrients. As they die, they create a thin layer of humus, which is gradually populated by other plants.

The most a big problem for the so-called pioneer plants – soil instability. Because of this, they have a powerful branched root system that serves as their anchor and at the same time strengthens the top soil layer. If, as a result of landslides, the plant is completely buried, then over time, through the thickness of sand and pebbles, new shoots break through, forming leaves and flowers on the surface.

In the highlands grows the dwarf willow - the smallest tree in the world. A thin willow trunk, sometimes clinging to the ground, sometimes creeping underground, is densely covered with small branches protruding only a few centimeters. The roots of the tree are located in the most superficial, warmest layer of soil. Due to their short form, they are not afraid of strong cold winds.
Plants growing on mountain ledges and rocky slopes are also very well adapted to such conditions. The dense leaf pad and stems covered with fluffy hairs reflect part of the sun's rays. In addition, a peculiar formation is formed between the hairs. air gap, helping to retain moisture. Some types of plants have succulent, fleshy leaves that can retain moisture for a long time (for example, mountain rose - in Russia it is known as “stone rose” or “hare cabbage”). The leaves of other plants, on the contrary, are dry, covered with a waxy coating, either rolled into a tube or in the form of spines, also protect the plants from excessive evaporation of moisture.

Alpine flowers have adapted to life in extremely cold conditions, and most can adapt to very poor soil or no soil at all. However, such plants generally cannot tolerate long periods of exposure to rainy conditions. In winter they usually find protection under the snow, and at other times of the year, when heavy rainfall is possible, they adapt by arranging leaves that help drain water and prevent it from pooling at the base of the plant.

Alpine flowers transplanted into gardens in the valley, where their growth is influenced by higher temperatures, fertile soils and competition from other plants, as a rule, grow differently than in the usual high-altitude conditions. The typical mountain flower has a long, branched root and a low-set rosette, or cushion, of small leaves to reduce the surface area that is exposed to the elements. The leaves themselves are often covered with whitish, silky hairs or have a glossy coating to retain water.

The flowers of most alpine plants develop on a spike-shaped inflorescence that emerges from a floral rosette in summer. If it is damaged by harsh weather or eaten by animals, the rest of the plant remains intact, and although it will not be able to form another inflorescence this year, it will try to do so in the next growing season. Most alpine flowers are very slowly growing perennial plants, so in case of an unfavorable growing season, they can try to set seeds on next year. Some may form small airy bulbs on the fruit. These bulbs can separate from the plant and sprout when they get into favorable place. Others may produce long trailing tendrils that send out sprouts and roots; they can themselves grow in a new place at some distance from the parent plant.

Wildpret's bruise. Photo: Megan Hansen

Mount Teide in the Canary Islands is home to many native flowers that are found nowhere else in the world. The large native bruise (Echium wildprettii) sends up long, spike-shaped inflorescences with tiny flowers to attract the small number of pollinating insects that live in high-altitude conditions. 

Trees growing in the mountains

Spruce

Its elongated pyramidal silhouette is easily recognizable. This powerful tree can reach a height of 60 m. Spruces grow both on the plain and in the mountains, in a forest zone with a temperate climate, where there is enough moisture and relatively cool. In the mountains of Europe, spruce rises to a height of 1700 m. Its fallen needles, decomposing, acidify the soil so much that only some woody and herbaceous plants, such as wood sorrel, can grow on it.

Flowers growing in the mountains

The oldest spruce trees reach the venerable age of 600 years!

Fir

Like spruce, fir grows both in the mountains and on plains, for example in Siberia. Deeply plunging its roots into the soil, the fir raises its slender, straight trunk with a pyramidal crown high. In the mountains, fir grows at altitudes from 700 to 1100 m, but in some places, for example in the Pyrenees, it is found at an altitude of 2000 m. Both spruce and fir provide food and shelter to many forest creatures. In winter, grouse eat pine needles, squirrels and woodpeckers eat seeds, insects feed on bark and wood. Fir lives up to 500 years.

Larch

The only coniferous tree that sheds all its needles before the onset of winter. Larch grows both on the plain and in the mountains up to an altitude of 2500 m, where it forms light, dry forests. To grow, it needs a lot of light and moisture, which is why it does so well in the mountains. However, the higher the larch rises in the mountains, the slower it grows. So, at an altitude of 1700 m, a tree takes 15 years to grow 2 m, and at an altitude of 2500 m it takes 50 years.

Rowan

A tree with a height of 8 to 15 m, light-loving, widespread both on the plain and in the mountains, where it rises to a height of 2400 m. Rowan is usually part of the lower tree layer of light mixed forests, often growing along the edges and rocky banks of mountain rivers. The small orange-red rowan fruits collected in clusters are very popular with birds. The berries stay on the branches throughout the winter and serve as valuable food for many animals.

Beech

This tree grows not only on the plains of Europe, but also at altitudes of up to 1700 m. Beech is shade-tolerant, loves coolness and plenty of water, and therefore often becomes a dangerous competitor for fir. Almost no other plants can grow in its dense shade. The longevity record for beech trees is 518 years, but these trees usually do not live more than 200 years. Beech provides food for many animals, in particular birds and various rodents, which happily eat its nuts.

Giant Sequoiadendron

This tree is one of the largest in the world. Its height can reach 83 m, and its trunk circumference is 30 m! Because of its size, it is also called a mammoth tree. These trees grow in California at altitudes between 1400 and 2500 m and can live up to 3000 years. A relative of the Mammoth tree, the evergreen sequoia is even taller - up to 115 m with a girth of 10 m. All redwoods reproduce very slowly; their cones can hang on the branches for twenty years before they fall to the ground and disperse their seeds.

Rhododendron

Its name means "rose tree" in Latin. Indeed, with the onset of spring, fragrant white, pink or lilac flowers(sometimes this plant is incorrectly called wild rosemary). Among rhododendrons there are both shrubs and trees reaching a height of 30 m. Mountain conditions suit them well. Rhododendrons are found in the Pyrenees, Alps, and Himalayas, where they rise to a height of 3000 m. Rhododendron forests are famous for their beauty, as well as for the fact that they serve as a refuge for yetis.

Cedar

This coniferous tree grows in arid mountainous areas at altitudes from 1500 to 2400 m. There are several types of cedar, including Lebanese cedar, Atlas cedar, and Himalayan (deo-dar). The height of these trees is 30-50 m. The crown of the Lebanese cedar becomes flat over time, giving the tree the appearance of a giant umbrella. Himalayan cedar usually grows in a mixture with firs and evergreen oaks. In the Himalayas it grows at an altitude of 3500 m. The tallest and slenderest of all is Atlas cedar. Its homeland is Africa, but it is grown in Europe, the Caucasus, Crimea, and Asia.

Juniper

Its height usually does not exceed 5-10 m, the record is 26 m. This is an unusually hardy coniferous plant able to survive on very poor soils and at altitudes up to 4500 m. Junipers often live up to 1000 years. The oldest known specimen of this species is now about 1,600 years old. In Yosemite National Park in the Rocky Mountains (USA), junipers exist in extremely dry conditions. Here they sometimes grow on almost bare rocks, anchoring themselves in cracks with long roots.

"Cedar" pine

This is the name of similar species of pine trees: European and Siberian. In Europe cedar pine It is found up to the very upper border of the forest belt, at altitudes from 1200 to 2600 m. It is easily recognized by its bunches of five needles. It can have a squat, ovoid or pyramidal shape, and its height reaches 25 m. In the highlands, pine exists in difficult conditions, including low temperatures in winter and a short growing season in summer. It grows slowly here. There are even forms of pine that creep along mountain slopes.

mountain alder

The maximum height of this tree is 4 m, and it most often grows in small clumps. Alder is one of the pioneer species: it is one of the first to settle in abandoned pastures, fires, clearings, and even on bare slopes devastated by avalanches. Its roots secure the scree and enrich the soil with nitrogen, as nodules with nitrogen-fixing bacteria develop on them. Leaf litter produces humus when rotting. Thus, mountain alder prepares conditions for settlement by other species, for example spruce, which then gradually displace it.

Hooked pine

It owes its name to the unusual shape of the crocheted scales on the cone. This pine, up to 25 m high, is unusually hardy: it can survive on poor rocky soils and steep mountain slopes, and can withstand extreme cold and fierce winds. In the Pyrenees, it rises to a record height for itself - more than 2600 m. Its needles are collected in a bunch of two, like an ordinary pine. The hooked pine lives for several centuries. Some of the living specimens are 1000 years old or more.

Medicinal plants of the mountains

From time immemorial, people have used various plants to treat diseases. Mountain plants were no exception. And some of them, such as arnica, are used as valuable medicinal raw materials today.

Arnica

This relatively tall (up to 60 cm) plant is found at altitudes up to 2800 m. At the top of the arnica stems there are several yellow basket inflorescences, similar in shape to chamomile inflorescences. An aqueous or alcoholic infusion of arnica flowers and underground parts is used to prepare ointments that help with sprains and bruises. However, this plant should never be ingested, as it contains very strong poison!

St. John's wort

For more than 2000 years, St. John's wort has been used medicinally to treat depression and skin diseases. The ointment from this plant perfectly treats wounds and burns. In former times, St. John's wort was credited with magical properties, in particular the ability to drive out ghosts and ward off storms. The height of the St. John's wort stem reaches 1 m. This light-loving plant prefers well-lit meadows and forest edges. It is found everywhere in the forest zone, and in the mountains - at an altitude of up to 1600 m. But in order to collect this plant, you need to know its signs well, since it is very easy to confuse it with a non-medicinal species.

Coltsfoot

The unusual name of this plant is due to the fact that the underside of its leaves is soft, warm and tender, like a mother’s love, and the upper side is hard and cold, like the indifference of a stepmother. His healing properties were well known to the ancient Romans: by burning the dried leaves of coltsfoot, they inhaled the smoke and thereby treated coughs. A tincture of its leaves and flowers helps with colds and coughs.

Educational presentation. Excursion 1. In the mountains. What grows in the mountains.

Coltsfoot grows in damp meadows and along the banks of streams. In the mountains it can be found at an altitude of up to 3000 m. The yellow inflorescences-baskets of coltsfoot resemble those of a dandelion, but appear a little earlier in the spring. And the stem, unlike the dandelion stem, is pubescent.

Burdock

No wonder they say: “stuck like a burr.” Burdock (burdock) inflorescences, sitting at the end of the shoots, are prickly balls dotted with small hooks that cling to literally everything - hair, clothing, animal fur... This is a biennial meadow and weed plant. In the mountains it is found at an altitude of up to 1800 m. Its young leaves, when crushed, neutralize poisons well. Rubbing insect bites with them will soothe the pain and prevent swelling.

Cinchona tree

This tree grows in the mountain forests of the Andes at altitudes from 1200 to 3200 m. It is responsible for saving millions of lives. Indians have long used its bark to treat severe tropical fever. Subsequently, the medicinal substance quinine was obtained from the bark of this tree to treat malaria. This disease, which is transmitted by certain types of mosquitoes, still affects more than two billion people in tropical countries.

Alpine clover

Alpine clover grows in the mountains at altitudes from 1500 to 3000 m and serves as a favorite food for chamois and marmots. Its pinkish-red flowers, collected in inflorescence-heads, are very fragrant, and a strong root several centimeters long securely anchors the plant in rocky soil. Alpine clover flowers are rich in nectar and have a sweet taste, so its heads are often chewed as a treat. Alpine clover decoction is used to treat bronchitis.

Gentian yellow

It's large and resilient. herbaceous plant up to 1 m high, it grows in forests and alpine meadows at altitudes of up to 2000 m. A bitter drink is made from its roots, which serves as an effective tonic, stimulates appetite and improves digestion. However, this plant, like any other, must be used with great caution. If it's good not to know species characteristics, then you can confuse gentian with other plants, for example with poisonous hellebore.

When a person climbs a high mountain, he feels that the temperature decreases and the climate becomes more humid. He would have experienced approximately the same climate change when traveling from the tropics to the pole. This climate change is also reflected in mountain vegetation. In any country on the globe, the plants on the mountain slopes are more similar to the flora of the countries lying closer to the poles than to the vegetation of the plains surrounding these mountains.

Of course, at the foot of the mountain the same thing grows as around it: in the tropics - impenetrable, dark jungles, in the subtropics - evergreen laurel forests, in the temperate zone - deciduous forests of beech and oak or birch and aspen, and in more northern places - coniferous forests. As travelers climb up, vegetation types of higher and higher latitudes gradually pass before the gaze of travelers.

For example, the Himalayas lie close to the tropics; at an altitude of 1000 m, the tropical jungle gives way to subtropical laurel forests; from 1500 to 2000 m there are walnut, oak and beech forests; at an altitude of about 2500 m they are replaced by coniferous forests - fir, spruce, pine; The upper edge of the coniferous forest lies at an altitude of 2900 to 4300 m.

The further the mountains are from the equator, the lower the corresponding types of vegetation are located on them. In the Caucasus and Central Asian ridges, coniferous forests grow at altitudes from 1500 to 2300 m, and in Altai these forests cover the foothills of the ridges.

Mountain forest is very similar to the vegetation of the plains of a certain latitude. The beautiful oak forests of the Caucasus are reminiscent of Central Russian oak forests, and in the dark forests of Caucasian fir it is easy to imagine that you are in the Western Siberian taiga.

The spruce forests of the Tien Shan, interrupted by green meadow glades, are similar to the spruce forests of the central zone of the European part of the USSR.

However, there are significant differences between mountain and lowland forests. The closer to the equator, the higher above the horizon the sun stands in summer.

In summer, the air temperature in the mountain slope zones is the same as on the plains of the corresponding latitudinal zone, but winter on the southern mountains is shorter than on the northern ones.

Coniferous forests in the north of the Soviet Union account for only 3-4 summer months per year, while in the mountains of the Caucasus and Central Asia for fir and spruce forests, summer lasts 5-6 months. Therefore, mountain vegetation cannot be identified with plant zones at higher latitudes.

Above the strip of coniferous forests, where there is no longer enough heat or nutrition for the trees, the mountain slopes are covered with characteristic vegetation that is not found on the plains. True, it resembles the meadows and tundras of the North, but it has so many of its own characteristics that it is difficult to confuse it with anything else. This alpine vegetation was first studied in detail in the Alps and was called alpine meadows. The more lush part of the high alpine meadows, located just beyond the coniferous forest, is often called subalpine meadows to distinguish them from the typical alpine meadows lying even higher.

The high mountain climate is quite harsh. But the clear mountain air allows much more sunlight to pass through than on the plains. During the day alpine plants well lit and warmed up by the sun's rays. After sunset, a chill begins to blow from the overlying snow, the air temperature drops and the ground quickly cools. In the mountains, cold nights and severe frosts are common even in midsummer. Summer in the alpine meadow zone is relatively short: the snow melts only under the direct rays of the summer sun. As autumn approaches, the sun can no longer heat the mountainside that has cooled overnight. Fog hangs over the mountain meadows, and then snow falls.

In the Caucasus, Alps, and Carpathians, alpine plants can grow for only six months, in the Tien Shan for 4-5 months, and in Altai for 2-3 months. In the tropics, alpine meadows do not know winter peace, since the temperature here drops only at night, and not below -10°. However, on ridges far from the equator, temperatures during the winter months drop from -20 to -50°. This climate is somewhat reminiscent of the tundra. But in mountain soils there is no permafrost, so there is no accumulation of soil moisture or waterlogging, characteristic of the tundra. In addition, in the summer in the mountains of temperate and tropical latitudes there is no polar unsetting sun, and the days here are relatively shorter than in northern latitudes. There is more precipitation in the mountains than in the tundra, and sunlight is more intense.

The subalpine zone consists of lush, tall grass meadows or thickets of mountain shrubs. The subalpine zone in the Caucasus is especially good. Here the mountain tall grass is very majestic.

Tall grass meadows stretch in a wide strip along the coniferous forest zone in the Caucasus Nature Reserve (north of Sochi), in South Ossetia and Colchis. The grass here grows up to 2.5 m and covers even the rider on a horse. Most grasses are perennials: they use little heat better than others and grow faster in the spring. Purple geraniums, blue bells, yellow elecampane and foxgloves, blue aconites and larkspurs grow here. Among them rise huge white umbrellas of hogweeds and yellow flowers lilies. Only here and there are tall grasses mixed in: huge grass grass, timothy, fescue. Particularly interesting is the perennial rye of Kupriyanov - a close relative of cultivated rye. It occupies vast clearings in the Caucasian Nature Reserve and produces good grain, which is sometimes used by local residents.

On the ridges of Central Asia the climate is drier. Here in the subalpine meadows there are more grasses, and they are low-growing: wheatgrass, bluegrass, fescue, wild oats, brome grass, foxtail grass. Against the backdrop of cereal thickets, broad-leaved bushes of mountain zopnik with large plumes of purple flowers and mountain meadow geranium with pinkish-lilac flowers stand out. Blue bells, pink scabiosa, blue gentians, orange-yellow, like fire, swimworts grow here, pinkish-white large spikes of buckwheat flowers sway. The Altai subalpine meadows are dominated by large-flowered buttercups, larkspurs, aconites, geraniums, geraniums, mantles, and sorrel. The most common cereals are black grass and perennial oats.

The meadow subalpine flora is interspersed with bushes. The Caucasus is especially characterized by thickets of rhododendron and azaleas with an admixture of crowberries and blueberries. In spring, these thickets bloom and the air is filled with aroma. Creeping forms of willow and pine are also common here.

Above the subalpine meadows, low-grass alpine meadows begin. It's already cold for the plants here. The height of alpine grasses is from 10 to 30 cm, but they have highly developed roots that form a dense turf. Almost all of these plants are perennials. annual plant would not have time to develop properly before the fall, but the perennial plant immediately, as soon as it becomes warm, begins a full life: it blooms and bears fruit.

Many alpine herbs reproduce vegetatively: by rhizomes, suckers, shoots from the roots. Shrubs in alpine meadows are also low-growing, they branch abundantly. Numerous and short branches make the surface of their crown smooth, and the bush looks like a round pillow lying on the ground. This structure protects it from excessive evaporation of moisture and sudden temperature fluctuations.

Low-growing alpine meadows are extremely beautiful. Groups of large flowers of a wide variety of shades are scattered across the emerald glades, and above the clearings sparkle eternal snow mountain peaks. The main background of alpine meadows is sedges growing in dense bushes and grasses (quackers, bluegrass, fescue, white grass, cobresia). Flowering bushes of alpine clovers are scattered against this background. Mountain anemones, poppies, violets, gentians, buttercups, and alpine asters are blooming. They are all squat and large. The bright color helps to attract insects that are very rare in the mountains and pollinate alpine flowers.

Scientists tried to sow early ripening cultivated plants in the mountains. The color of the stems, leaves and flowers of these plants increased unusually. Peas, flax, and poppies bloomed much more brightly in the mountains than on the plain. Even the radish roots and pink potato tubers, grown in the Caucasus Nature Reserve in the meadows near the snowy peaks of Fisht and Ostein, looked much brighter than usual.

The high mountain climate allows alpine plants to bloom luxuriantly and for a long time. Frost and snow stop flowering, but do not harm flowers and buds. Warm weather sets in and flowering continues. So, for example, alpine perennial poppy blooms all summer, alpine strawberries bear fruit all summer. The low-growing grasses of alpine meadows are extremely nutritious. Livestock, even exhausted by a hard winter, grow quickly here and gain weight. In Switzerland, Austria and here in the Tien Shan, the Caucasus and Altai, herds of sheep, cows and goats graze in mountain meadows above the line of coniferous forests from early spring to late autumn.

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