Alpine Flowers

The Alps are home to some of the most remarkable wildflowers on earth, and knowing what you are looking at transforms any mountain day. This compact pocket field guide from alpine expert Gillian Price covers the most commonly found alpine flower species, designed to slip into a pack pocket and be pulled out on the hillside when something catches your eye.

Gillian Price's trusted Cicerone field guide covers 230 alpine flowers with clear photographs, identification notes and fascinating background on the plants themselves. Arranged by colour for quick reference, it is designed for the non-specialist walker with a curiosity about the natural world around them.

Flowers are organised by colour (red, yellow, blue, purple and white) for rapid identification in the field, so you can look up what you are seeing without needing prior botanical knowledge
Each entry includes a clear photograph and concise description of the flower's key identifying features, alongside its name in English, Latin, German, French and Italian
Fascinating notes on the origins of flower names and curious historical facts add depth to each entry, making this as enjoyable to read as it is useful in the field
An introduction by Gillian Price explores the remarkable survival strategies of alpine flowers, from the Alpine Snowbell's natural antifreeze to the extraordinary adaptations that allow tiny plants to endure months beneath snow and temperatures as low as minus 25°C
A glossary of flower parts, a full flower index by English and Latin name, and a directory of botanical gardens across the Alps complete the guide


A beautiful and practical companion for any mountain walker with an eye for the natural world. Never again wonder what that flower is.

Seasons

Flowers don't begin appearing until early spring (March) at medium altitudes with the thaw under way. The whole brilliant show is in full swing up at high altitudes from June through to August/September, but many flowers also come out as late as October.

Centres

Difficulty

Must See

Glossary

Introduction

Survival Techniques
Reproduction
Migration and Climate Change
Naming
Identification
Distribution

Flowers

Red
Yellow
Blue
Purple
White

Appendices

Botanical Gardens across the Alps
Flower Index