Liechtenstein’s compact landscapes—steep alpine slopes, meadows and valley woods—support a surprising variety of native wildflowers that change with elevation and season. A clear, simple list makes it easier for hikers and amateur botanists to know what to look for on different trails and in nearby reserves.
There are 36 Flowers of Liechtenstein, ranging from Alpenrose to Yellow gentian. For each species you’ll find below the Scientific name,Habitat/location,Bloom time (months) so you can quickly match appearance to place and season; you’ll find below the full list and details.
When is the best time to see most of these species in bloom?
Bloom times vary by elevation and species, but the majority flower between late spring and early autumn; use the Bloom time (months) column to plan visits by altitude—lower valleys peak earlier, alpine meadows later in summer.
How can I tell Alpenrose and Yellow gentian apart in the field?
Alpenrose typically forms low, evergreen shrubs with clustered pink flowers on rocky slopes, while Yellow gentian is a shorter herb with bright yellow trumpet-shaped blooms in moist alpine meadows; check the Scientific name and Habitat/location fields for precise ID and typical sites.
Flowers of Liechtenstein
| Name | Scientific name | Habitat/location | Bloom time (months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edelweiss | Leontopodium alpinum | Alpine scree, subalpine slopes | Jul–Aug |
| Stemless gentian | Gentiana acaulis | Alpine and subalpine meadows, calcareous soils | Jun–Aug |
| Clusius’ gentian | Gentiana clusii | Calcareous alpine grassland and rocky slopes | May–Jul |
| Alpine pasqueflower | Pulsatilla alpina | Alpine meadows, stony slopes | Apr–Jun |
| Alpine aster | Aster alpinus | Rocky meadows, ledges, subalpine slopes | May–Jul |
| Mountain avens | Dryas octopetala | Alpine scree, limestone outcrops | May–Aug |
| Alpine forget-me-not | Myosotis alpestris | Moist alpine meadows, scree hollows | Jun–Aug |
| Harebell | Campanula rotundifolia | Meadows, rocky slopes, roadsides | Jun–Sep |
| Scheuchzer’s bellflower | Campanula scheuchzeri | Alpine rocky grassland and scree | Jun–Aug |
| Arnica | Arnica montana | Montane and subalpine meadows, pastures | Jun–Aug |
| Alpenrose | Rhododendron ferrugineum | Acidic subalpine heath and dwarf shrub zones | Jun–Jul |
| Cowslip | Primula veris | Meadows, open woods, calcareous grasslands | Apr–May |
| Wood anemone | Anemone nemorosa | Deciduous woods, shaded hedgerows | Mar–May |
| Oxeye daisy | Leucanthemum vulgare | Meadows, roadside verges, pastures | Jun–Aug |
| Common poppy | Papaver rhoeas | Arable fields, disturbed ground, roadsides | May–Jul |
| Meadow buttercup | Ranunculus acris | Damp meadows, pastures, roadside ditches | May–Jul |
| Common violet | Viola odorata | Gardens, hedgerows, shaded banks | Mar–May |
| Spring crocus | Crocus vernus | Alpine and subalpine meadows, edges | Mar–Apr |
| Alpine columbine | Aquilegia alpina | Limestone ledges, rocky meadows | May–Jul |
| Globe-flower | Trollius europaeus | Damp meadows, stream banks, montane wetlands | May–Jul |
| Purple saxifrage | Saxifraga oppositifolia | High alpine scree, exposed ridges | Apr–Jun |
| Alpine primrose | Primula auricula | Rocky ledges, limestone pastures | Apr–Jun |
| Lesser celandine | Ficaria verna | Damp woods, stream banks, shaded lawns | Mar–Apr |
| Early-purple orchid | Orchis mascula | Open woods, meadows, grassy clearings | Apr–Jun |
| Marsh orchid | Dactylorhiza majalis | Damp meadows, fens, marshy grasslands | May–Jul |
| Common knapweed | Centaurea nigra | Meadows, roadside verges, pastures | Jun–Sep |
| Field scabious | Knautia arvensis | Meadows, light scrub, roadbanks | Jun–Sep |
| Yellow gentian | Gentiana lutea | Montane pastures, subalpine slopes | Jun–Aug |
| Dandelion | Taraxacum officinale | Lawns, meadows, roadsides, disturbed ground | Mar–Oct |
| Coltsfoot | Tussilago farfara | Disturbed ground, stream banks, early spring sites | Mar–Apr |
| Narcissus (daffodil) | Narcissus pseudonarcissus | Gardens, parklands, sometimes naturalized meadows | Mar–Apr |
| Tulip (wild/escaped) | Tulipa sylvestris (and garden hybrids) | Gardens, occasional field escapes, village edges | Apr–May |
| Sweet woodruff | Galium odoratum | Shaded woodlands, garden borders | Apr–Jun |
| Meadow saffron | Colchicum autumnale | Damp meadows, hayfields, valley lowlands | Sep–Oct |
| Hairy rock jasmine | Androsace villosa | Alpine rock crevices, ledges | May–Jul |
| Centaury | Centaurium erythraea | Dry meadows, chalky slopes, roadsides | Jun–Sep |
Images and Descriptions
Edelweiss
Iconic white woolly star of the high Alps, found on rocky slopes around Malbun and higher ridges. Look for its fuzzy, silvery bracts amid limestone scree; a classic alpine sight and conservation symbol of mountain flora.
Stemless gentian
A deep-blue, bowl-shaped gentian that carpets alpine lawns after snowmelt. Best seen on sunny subalpine meadows near Malbun and Gaflei; highly conspicuous and beloved by hikers for its intense cobalt flowers.
Clusius’ gentian
Similar to the stemless gentian but prefers limestone soils. You’ll find bright blue, trumpet-like flowers on sunny calcareous slopes around Triesenberg and higher limestone outcrops in summer.
Alpine pasqueflower
A silky, nodding spring flower with cream to pale purple blooms and feathery seedheads. Often seen on early-snowmelt meadows and ridges near Malbun; a delicate spring treat for mountain walkers.
Alpine aster
Low-growing daisy with violet to pink rays and yellow center that dots rocky ledges and alpine pastures. Common in sheltered spots above the valley—look for patches near mountain trails.
Mountain avens
A hardy white-flowered shrublet with evergreen leaves forming mats on calcareous scree. Visible on exposed limestone benches and high ridges; notable for bright white flowers and long-lived cushion growth.
Alpine forget-me-not
Tiny, vivid blue flowers carpeting moist patches and snowmelt hollows. Found in subalpine to alpine meadows around Malbun and high valley tarns—charming and easy to miss unless you watch closely.
Harebell
Slender stems bearing delicate, nodding blue bell-flowers that sway on windy slopes and roadside verges. Frequent from valley meadows up into subalpine pastures; common and attractive to passing hikers.
Scheuchzer’s bellflower
A compact, pale-blue bellflower of high calcareous slopes. Look for it on stony alpine pastures and ledges above tree-line, where it forms small clumps among grasses and herbs.
Arnica
Bright yellow daisy-like flowers prized in folk remedies; grows in nutrient-poor mountain meadows. Spot arnica in traditionally grazed pastures and flower-rich haymeadows near the Rhine valley foothills.
Alpenrose
A low evergreen shrub with clusters of reddish-pink bell flowers carpeting acid slopes. Seen in subalpine heathlands and near treeline on acid bedrock around Triesenberg and higher ridges.
Cowslip
Nodding clusters of yellow tubular flowers in spring meadows and roadside verges. Look for cowslips in traditional hayfields and limestone meadows in the Rhine valley and lower slopes.
Wood anemone
Spring carpet of white or pale-pink flowers in beech and mixed woodlands. Common in shady forest floors and hedgerows near Vaduz and Schaan—an early woodland indicator species.
Oxeye daisy
Familiar white-petalled daisies with yellow centers brightening summer meadows and road edges. Widespread throughout valley grasslands and disturbed ground—easy to spot on casual walks.
Common poppy
Vivid red, papery blooms that pepper cultivated fields and roadside verges early summer. Often seen in the Rhine valley and lowland fields around farms and villages.
Meadow buttercup
Shiny yellow, cup-shaped flowers common in hay meadows and pastures. Found across valley and lower mountain meadows—an indicator of unimproved grassland when abundant.
Common violet
Fragrant purple or white violets that colonise shady gardens and hedgerows. Widely seen in village gardens and woodland edges; used as a spring scent and in traditional sweets.
Spring crocus
Early spring crocus with goblet-like lilac to white flowers in open meadows and lawn-like alpine patches. Appears soon after snowmelt in lower alpine meadows and sheltered mountain lawns.
Alpine columbine
Striking blue to purple nodding flowers with spurred petals on calcareous slopes. Look for it on limestone ledges and rocky pastures where it forms showy clumps in late spring.
Globe-flower
Round, bright yellow buttercup relatives growing in moist meadows and alongside mountain streams. Spot them in wet pastures and at Ruggeller Riet-type wetland edges in early summer.
Purple saxifrage
One of the earliest alpine bloomers, with deep-magenta flowers carpeting rock crevices at high altitudes. Seen on exposed ridges and rocky summits where few plants survive winter.
Alpine primrose
Showy clusters of yellow to orange primulas on limestone ledges and rocky outcrops. Popular with alpine gardeners and visible on calcareous slopes above the valley.
Lesser celandine
Glossy yellow spring flowers that carpet damp banks and shady lawns. Widespread in village hedgerows and woodland edges; a bright early-season indicator of moist soils.
Early-purple orchid
Purple-spotted spikes of flowers in spring woodlands and semi-natural meadows. Seen in lower-elevation clearings and traditional meadows around villages—welcome for orchid enthusiasts.
Marsh orchid
Robust spikes of pink to purple flowers in wet meadows and fens. Look for them in damp valley marshes and reserve areas where traditional mowing maintains habitat.
Common knapweed
Magenta thistle-like flowerheads that attract bees and butterflies across late summer. Frequent in species-rich meadows and roadside banks throughout the valley and lower hills.
Field scabious
Lilac, pincushion-like flowers on tall stems in dry meadows and hedgerow margins. Common in traditional flower-rich grasslands and along rural paths—excellent for pollinators.
Yellow gentian
Tall, pale-yellow gentian of mountain pastures used historically for bitters. Seen on grassy slopes and pasture margins in the Liechtenstein Alps—noticeable for its size and coarse leaves.
Dandelion
Everywhere familiar yellow puffball that flowers spring through autumn. Ubiquitous in towns, meadows and mountain pastures—an easy identification and constant presence in local landscapes.
Coltsfoot
Early yellow daisy-like flowers often appearing before leaves on bare banks and roadside verges. A common spring roadside sight in the Rhine valley and lower slopes.
Narcissus (daffodil)
Classic yellow spring bulbs widely planted in gardens and parks; occasional escapees brighten village edges and old meadows. Common in cultivated displays around towns like Vaduz.
Tulip (wild/escaped)
Various tulips appear in cultivated beds and sometimes naturalize in old grasslands; wild Tulipa sylvestris and garden forms flower in spring near villages and garden displays.
Sweet woodruff
Small white star-like flowers with a sweet scent carpeting shaded woodland floors and garden borders. Common under deciduous trees in village woodlands and cottage gardens.
Meadow saffron
Unusual autumn-blooming purple flowers emerging from the ground after summer haycutting. Seen in traditional damp meadows and lowland pastures—striking late-season spectacle.
Hairy rock jasmine
Tiny tufted cushions of pink to white flowers on exposed rock faces. Found in high alpine rock crevices and ledges—best spotted on steep ridges and rocky summits.
Centaury
Small pink star-like flowers of dry, low meadows and disturbed banks. Common on calcareous grasslands and sunny roadside verges in the Rhine valley and lower hills.
