Mountain Flowers | Mountain Hiking Holidays

Mountain Flowers

…flowers, so blue and golden,
Stars, that in earth’s firmament do shine.

–HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW, Flowers

Here is a catalog of mountain wildflowers we’ve enjoyed on Mountain Hiking Holidays around the world. From Europe, to South America, to Japan, these glorious gems of the mountains enrich our journeys along the trail! Enjoy!

	Darwin’s Slipper Calceolaria uniflora A strange looking flower from the Patagonian Andes. Its discovery is often attributed to Charles Darwin (hence its common name), but it was first collected in 1767 by the French naturalist Philibert Commerson. Photographed on the trail outside of El Chalten, Argentina. February 28, 2020. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Iwakagami Schizocodon soldanelloides The flowers are reminiscent of a Soldanella, hence the specific name soldanelloides (“in the form of a Soldanella”). Photographed on the trail to Minamiryugabamba, Hakusan National Park. July 17, 2011. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Snowbell Soldanella alpina A member of the Primula family. Among the first flowers to bloom in the high mountains of Europe often pushing through the snow cover. to do so. Photographed on the trail to Rifugio Fonda Savio, Italian Dolomites, July 5, 2010. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Fire Lily Lilium bulbiferum Known as Giglio rosso in Italian. Photographed on the trail between Passo Gardena and Colfosco, Cir Group, Dolomites. July 22, 2009. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Common Twayblade Listera ovata An orchid known as Großes Zweiblatt (in German) or Listera maggiore (in Italian). Photographed on the trail from Passo Tre Croce to Rifugio Vandelli in the Sorapiss mountain group, Dolomites. July 25, 2009. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Iris des Pyrénées Iris latifolia Growing in the Vallée des Pouey Aspé above Gavarnie. July 2009. « PHOTO BY: Amy Boyce Osaki
	Ladies’ Tresses Spiranthes sp Known by the Japanese common name “nejibana” meaning “twisting flower.” Member of the orchid family. Growing on the slopes of Iwaonupuri, Niseko region, Hokkaido, Japan, August 29, 2008. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Giboshi Hosta rectifolia Known by the Japanese common name “tachigiboushi” (タチギボウシ). Growing near O-numa on the Niseko Circuit hike, Hokkaido, Japan. Photographed on August 29, 2008. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Wintergreen Gaultheria pyroloides Known by the Japanese common name “shiratamanoki” meaning “tree of white balls.” Growing on the slopes of the Tarumae volcano, Hokkaido, Japan. Photographed on August 28, 2008. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Scarlet Avens Geum coccineum Growing near Popovo Ezero, Pirin Mountains, Bulgaria. June 19, 2008. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Burnt Orchid Orchis ustulata Growing in wet meadow near the Rila Monastery, Bulgaria. June 17, 2008. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Fuegian Edelweiss Leucheria leontopodioides Not really an edelweiss, but a member of the aster family growing on the slopes of Cerro del Medio, Fuegian Andes, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. February 25, 2008. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Amancay Alstroemeria aurea Photographed on February 29, 2008 on the trail from Villa Catedral to Laguna Tonchek, Nahuel Huapi National Park, Argentina. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Japanese Monkshood Aconitum japonicum Known in Japanese as “yamatorikabuto.” Sounkyo Gorge, Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido, Japan, September 11, 2007. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Alpine Bearberry Arctous alpinus The leaves of the alpine bearberry (known as “urashimatsutsuji,” in Japanese) in fall splendor. Photographed on the slopes of Midori-dake in Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido, Japan, September 11, 2007. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Hokkaido Gentian Gentiana sp Photographed near Sugatami Ponds in Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido, Japan, September 10, 2007. Known as “Ezo yamarindou” (エゾヤマリンドウ) in Japanese. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Azorean Bellflower Azorina vidalii An Azorean endemic. Growing just above the breaking waves at the base of the sea cliffs on the north coast of Sao Jorge island in the Azores. Photographed on August 6, 2006. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	St. Dabeoc’s Heath Daboecia cantabrica azorica Growing on the slopes of the Pico volcano, island of Pico, the Azores. Photographed on August 4, 2006. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Alpine Pink Dianthus microlepis June 28, 2002 en route between Bunderitsa Valley and Popina Luka, Pirin National Park, Bulgaria. « PHOTO BY: Nancy Chapman
	Giant Pink Dianthus giganteus June 30, 2002 in the meadows at Popovi Livadi, Pirin Mountains, Bulgaria. « PHOTO BY: Nancy Chapman
	Thracian Flax Linum thracium June 28, 2002 en route between Bunderitsa Valley and Popina Luka, Pirin National Park, Pirin Mountains, Bulgaria. « PHOTO BY: Nancy Chapman
	Pyrenean Gentian Gentiana pyrenaica June 21, 2002 in the meadows surrounding the Musalenski Ezera (Musala Lakes), Rila National Park, Rila Mountains, Bulgaria. « PHOTO BY: Nancy Chapman
	Dwarf Rock Cress Aubrieta gracilis June 25, 2002 in meadows around the Bunderishki Ezera (“Bunderitsa Lakes”), Pirin National Park, Pirin Mountains, Bulgaria. « PHOTO BY: Nancy Chapman
	Heart-leaved Leopardsbane Doronicum columnae June 27, 2002 near Popovo Ezero (“Priest Lake”), Pirin National Park, Pirin Mountains, Bulgaria. « PHOTO BY: Nancy Chapman
	Edelweiss Leontopodium nivale September 2000 at the Miradores de Ordesa, Ordesa-Monte Perdido National Park, Aragonese Pyrenees, Spain. Perhaps the most romantic member of the daisy family (Compositae). Its German name means “noble (or, precious) white.” It is also known as: Pied de lion, or étoile d’argent (French, “lion’s foot,” or “silver star”); stella alpina (Italian, “alpine star”); szarotka alpejska (Polish, found in the Tatra Mountains); flor de nieve (Spanish, “flower of snow”); edelvaîs (Bulgarian, found in the Pirin Mountains). « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Devil’s Claw Physoplexis comosa July 2007, Sylvesterscharte, Puez Group, Dolomites, Italy. « PHOTO BY: Steve Zimmermann
	Quitameriendas Merendera bulbocodium September 2000 at the Miradores de Ordesa, Ordesa-Monte Perdido National Park, Aragonese Pyrenees, Spain. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Acanthus-leaved Carline Thistle Carlina acanthifolia September 1999 in the Circo de Pineta, Aragonese Pyrenees, Spain. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Bear’s Ears Ramonda pyrenaica Near the village of Sercue, Añisclo Canyon, Ordesa-Monte Perdido National Park, Aragonese Pyrenees, Spain. A Pyrenean endemic. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Moss Campion Silene acaulis July 1999 in the Gaube Valley below the Hourquette d’Ossoue, Pyrenees National Park, France. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Butterwort Pinguicula grandiflora Añisclo Canyon, Ordesa-Monte Perdido National Park, Aragonese Pyrenees, Spain. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Rusty Alpenrose Rhododendron ferrugineum North slope of the Cadini Range near Rifugio Citta di Carpi, Dolomites, Italy. « PHOTO BY: Amy Boyce Osaki
	Rhaetian Poppy Papaver rhaeticum On the slopes of Monte Civetta, Dolomites, Italy. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Pink Cinquefoil Potentilla nitida Monte Popena above Lago di Misurina, Dolomites, Italy. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	German Gentian Gentianella germanica Slopes of Monte Paterno below Pian di Cengia, Dolomites, Italy. « PHOTO BY: John Osaki
	Willow-leaved Gentian Gentiana asclepiadea September 2002 on trail to Lago di Sorapiss, Italian Dolomites. « PHOTO BY: Marta Rojas
	Vanilla Orchid Nigritella nigra corneliana July 2003 on trail to Refuge Cougourde, Mercantour National Park, France. « PHOTO BY: Amy Boyce Osaki

Slider photos are by AMY BOYCE OSAKI. Other photos as credited.