Flora in the Burren
The Dense-Flowered Orchid
Dense-flowered orchids are common in the Burren. Orchids flower to a calendar that begins in late April and continues into September. The orchid flower spikes are composed of densely packed, small pink or white flowers.
Courtesy of Robert Thompson.The Dense-Flowered Orchid
Courtesy of Robert Thompson.
Courtesy of Robert Thompson.
The Dense-Flowered Orchid
Dense-flowered orchids are common in the Burren. Orchids flower to a calendar that begins in late April and continues into September. The orchid flower spikes are composed of densely packed, small pink or white flowers.
Courtesy of Robert Thompson.In the Burren, plants from the Arctic, Mediterranean and Alpine areas can be found growing together. This is just one of many aspects of the Burren that makes it a unique landscape.
The Mediterranean plants can grow there because of the warmth built up in the limestone during the summer. This helps keep winter temperatures high enough to allow plants like the dense-flowered orchid to grow.
Mountain Avens
The mountain avens is an Arctic-Alpine plant. It flowers abundantly in sheets of cream and gold in the Burren, Co. Clare.
Courtesy of Carsten Krieger.Mountain Avens
Courtesy of Carsten Krieger.
Courtesy of Carsten Krieger.
Mountain Avens
The mountain avens is an Arctic-Alpine plant. It flowers abundantly in sheets of cream and gold in the Burren, Co. Clare.
Courtesy of Carsten Krieger.In the Burren you can also see plants from the cold Arctic. These include the mountain avens, which are beautiful, gold-coloured flowers.
These northern plants grow happily in the Burren because the sun reflects off the landscape and makes it bright enough for Arctic plants. In their native habitat the Arctic plants get a lot of sunlight!
The Harebell
The harebell is a delicate wildflower and a member of the bluebell family. On rare occasions, these flowers are white, but mostly they are blue. They are found in the Burren, Co. Clare.
Courtesy of Carsten Krieger.The Harebell
Courtesy of Carsten Krieger.
Courtesy of Carsten Krieger.
The Harebell
The harebell is a delicate wildflower and a member of the bluebell family. On rare occasions, these flowers are white, but mostly they are blue. They are found in the Burren, Co. Clare.
Courtesy of Carsten Krieger.There are over 600 different flowering plants found in the Burren. Some of these, such as the spring gential and the harebell, can be found in different habitats. However, the Burren has more of these plants than anywhere else!