List of Flowers of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s vast landscapes—from lowland steppe to high alpine meadows—host a surprising variety of native wildflowers that shift with the seasons and elevation. Travelers and nature lovers often find unexpected blooms tucked into valleys, roadside slopes, and mountain ridges.

There are 39 Flowers of Kazakhstan, ranging from Alatau Crocus to Zinaida’s Tulip. Each entry is organized with Scientific name, Habitat, Bloom (months) to help you identify and plan outings, and you’ll find below.

When is the best time to see wildflowers across Kazakhstan?

Spring and early summer are prime for most steppe and lowland blooms, while alpine species often peak later in late spring to mid-summer; timing varies by elevation and local climate, so use the Bloom (months) column below to target specific regions and species.

Are any of these species protected or rare?

Yes—several species on the list are endemic or have limited ranges and may be protected; check regional conservation lists before visiting, avoid picking plants, and use the Habitat column below to respect sensitive areas.

Flowers of Kazakhstan

Images and Descriptions

Greig’s Tulip

Known as the “King of Tulips,” this spectacular flower features large, vibrant red blooms with distinctive purple-mottled leaves. It is a symbol of the Kazakh spring and can be found in the foothills of the Western Tian Shan mountains, especially in Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve.

Water-lily Tulip

One of the earliest tulips to bloom, its star-shaped flowers open wide in the sun, resembling water lilies. Colors range from cream and yellow to pink and red. It is native to the Tian Shan mountains and is a popular ancestor of many garden tulip varieties.

Schrenck’s Tulip

Considered an ancestor of the first cultivated tulips in Turkey, this species displays a stunning variety of colors from red and yellow to white and purple. It carpets the steppes of northern and central Kazakhstan in spring, creating breathtaking natural displays.

Albert’s Tulip

This striking, large-flowered tulip is native to the arid foothills of the Karatau and Tian Shan mountains. Its brilliant scarlet or orange-red petals often have a black, yellow-bordered blotch at the base, making it a photographer’s favorite.

Regel’s Tulip

A unique and rare tulip from the Chu-Ili mountains, it is distinguished by its single, deeply ridged leaf that lies flat on the ground. Its small, white flowers with a yellow center are an early sign of spring in the desert landscape.

Ili Larkspur

A tall, elegant larkspur with spires of bright blue or violet flowers, endemic to the Ili River valley and Dzungarian Alatau. Its vibrant color stands out in the lush summer meadows, attracting pollinators and admirers alike.

Albert’s Iris

A beautiful bearded iris native to the Tian Shan mountains. It produces large, fragrant flowers in shades of violet-blue or yellow. This hardy plant thrives in the high-altitude conditions of southern and eastern Kazakhstan, often growing in clumps.

Giant Foxtail Lily

A truly magnificent plant, sending up a towering flower spike that can reach over 2 meters tall. The spike is densely packed with hundreds of star-shaped, pinkish-white flowers, creating a dramatic sight in the foothills of the Tian Shan.

Altai Foxtail Lily

Smaller than its giant cousin, this species is common in the Altai and Saur mountain ranges of eastern Kazakhstan. Its dense spikes of bright yellow or whitish flowers provide a vibrant splash of color to the summer steppe landscape.

Alatau Crocus

One of the first flowers to appear after the snow melts, this crocus is native to the Tian Shan and Dzungarian Alatau ranges. Its delicate white or pale lilac flowers, often with a yellow throat, are a cherished harbinger of spring in the mountains.

Peacock Poppy

This small but brilliant poppy brightens arid landscapes with its scarlet-red petals, each marked with a distinct black spot at the base, resembling a peacock’s feather. It is commonly found throughout the deserts and steppes of southern Kazakhstan.

Elegant Horned Poppy

Found in the deserts of southern Kazakhstan, this plant is notable for its glaucous (blue-grey) foliage and delicate orange or reddish flowers. After blooming, it produces a long, horn-like seed pod, giving the genus its common name.

Turkestan Onion

A very ornamental wild onion from the Karatau mountains, prized for its broad, blue-grey leaves and a large, dense globe of pinkish-lilac to white flowers on a short stem. It is perfectly adapted to the dry, rocky slopes it calls home.

Anomalous Peony

Also known as the Siberian Peony, this herbaceous plant produces large, showy, magenta-pink flowers with a center of bright yellow stamens. It can be found in the meadows and light woodlands of northern and eastern Kazakhstan.

Sievers’ Apple

The wild ancestor of all domesticated apples, this tree’s beautiful pink and white blossoms are a crucial part of Kazakhstan’s natural heritage. They can be seen in the wild apple forests of the Tian Shan mountains, particularly around Almaty.

Wild Apricot

Before the leaves emerge, the hillsides of southern Kazakhstan are adorned with the delicate pink and white blossoms of the wild apricot. This tree is a vital part of the region’s fruit-forest ecosystems in the Tian Shan foothills.

Fedtschenko’s Edelweiss

A classic symbol of the high mountains, this species of edelweiss thrives in the alpine zones of the Tian Shan. Its woolly, star-shaped bracts surround tiny yellow flowers, a testament to its adaptation to harsh, cold climates.

Roseroot

Valued for its medicinal properties, this succulent plant grows in the cool, high-altitude regions of the Altai mountains. It forms clumps of leafy stems topped with dense clusters of small, yellow or reddish flowers.

Karelin’s Columbine

A graceful flower found in the Dzungarian Alatau and Tian Shan mountains. Its nodding, bell-shaped flowers are typically a deep violet-blue with distinctive hooked spurs, adding a touch of elegance to moist, subalpine meadows.

Spring Adonis

This cheerful, buttercup-like flower brings a bright splash of yellow to the steppe in early spring. It is one of the first blooms to appear, often growing in large colonies across the grasslands of northern and central Kazakhstan.

Siberian Statice

A salt-tolerant plant that thrives in the saline soils of the Kazakh steppe and semi-desert. It produces airy sprays of tiny, papery, lavender-blue flowers, which are often collected and dried as “everlasting flowers.”

Desert Sage

This aromatic sage is well-adapted to the dry conditions of the Kazakh steppes. It has whorls of violet-blue flowers arranged on tall spikes, and its leaves release a strong scent when bruised. It’s a common sight in summer.

Severtzov’s Fritillary

A unique and unusual fritillary with nodding, bell-shaped flowers that are typically a dusky brownish-purple or greenish-yellow. It grows from a bulb in the foothills and mountains of the Tian Shan range as the snows retreat.

Altai Vetch

A common climbing plant in the meadows of northern and eastern Kazakhstan, particularly in the Altai region. It produces one-sided clusters of attractive purple-blue flowers, typical of the pea family, and helps enrich the soil.

Desert Candle

This striking plant from the mint family features whorls of creamy-yellow, hooded flowers arranged in tiers on a stout, woolly stem. It is a distinctive feature of the clay deserts and foothills in southern Kazakhstan during the spring.

Common Tamarisk

A salt-tolerant shrub or small tree that is ubiquitous along rivers and in saline soils. In summer, it is covered in feathery plumes of tiny, pink to whitish flowers, providing a vital nectar source in arid environments.

Olga’s Scabious

A beautiful pincushion flower endemic to the mountains of Central Asia. It has delicate, pale blue or lilac flower heads on long stems, waving above the grasses in the high meadows of the Tian Shan.

Ili Tulip

A small, elegant tulip native to the deserts around the Ili River and Lake Balkhash. It typically has bright yellow, pointed petals, sometimes flushed with red on the outside, bringing a cheerful burst of color to the sandy landscape.

Sogdian Crocus

One of the very earliest spring flowers, often blooming through melting snow. Its bright, golden-yellow flowers with brownish stripes on the outside are a welcome sight in the foothills of the western Tian Shan after a long winter.

Turkestan Rose

A hardy wild rose found across Central Asia, this shrub forms dense thickets. It produces clusters of small, simple, white flowers followed by distinctive round, orange-red hips. It’s common in the foothills and river valleys.

Zinaida’s Tulip

A rare and beautiful tulip, named after the botanist Zinaida Botschantzeva. Found in the western Tian Shan, it has large, cup-shaped flowers that are usually a vibrant mix of yellow, orange, and red, making it highly sought after.

Blue Globe Thistle

A striking plant with spherical, spiky flower heads of a metallic blue color. It is native to the Tian Shan mountains and is a dramatic feature of the dry, late-summer landscape, attracting many bees and butterflies.

Yellow-flowered Althaea

A tall, stately hollyhock relative with large, pale yellow or cream-colored flowers arranged along a towering spike. It is a common sight in the steppes and foothills of southern and eastern Kazakhstan, thriving in dry, sunny locations.

Tartar Catchfly

This resilient plant has loose clusters of white or pinkish flowers with deeply notched petals. It is well-adapted to sandy and gravelly soils and can often be found along riverbanks and across the vast steppes of Kazakhstan.

Common Yarrow

A widespread and hardy perennial with feathery, fern-like leaves and flat-topped clusters of small white or pinkish flowers. It is found in a variety of habitats across Kazakhstan and has a long history of traditional medicinal use.

Field Eryngo

This spiny, thistle-like plant has a stiff, branching structure and pale green or bluish, rounded flower heads surrounded by spiky bracts. It’s a tough, drought-resistant species common in the dry steppes of Kazakhstan.

Lake Balkhash Poppy

A rare poppy endemic to the desert regions around Lake Balkhash. It features delicate, pale yellow or whitish flowers on slender stems, a fragile beauty adapted to the harsh, saline conditions of its unique habitat.

Mountain Forget-me-not

In the high meadows of the Altai and Tian Shan mountains, this classic alpine flower forms cushions of intense sky-blue. Its tiny, cheerful flowers with a yellow center are a memorable sight for mountain hikers.

Tuberous Jerusalem Sage

A distinctive perennial with stout, upright stems and striking whorls of pink or purple hooded flowers spaced along the stem. It’s a common and robust plant of the Kazakh steppes, and its tubers are edible.

Flowers in Other Countries