The National Flower of Norway: The Pyramidal Saxifrage

Norway is a country in northern Europe. This mountainous coastal country forms half of the Scandinavian Peninsula, which it shares with Sweden and Finland. The country of Norway also has about 50,000 islands offshore from rugged coastlines carved out by glacial fjords.

Norway has a total land area of ​​148,728 square miles. The country is about the size of California. This Nordic country is characterized by coastal cities, agriculture in extreme climates, difficult soil conditions and fisheries.

The landscape is covered with forests and barren mountainous terrain. Norway’s endemic plant species grow in forests, marshes and marshes. One of these species is the pyramidal saxifrage, Norway’s national flower. Norway has about 2,000 plant species, but very few are actually endemic to the country.

Most of the landscape is trees growing in a dense forest. However, most of Norway’s endemic plants are mountain plants. Plants native to the Norwegian mountains include the pyramidal saxifrage. This article will tell you about this unique plant, its appearance and where it grows.

What is the National Flower of Norway?

The history of the pyramidal saxifrage as Norway’s national flower dates back to 1935. At that time, the International Botanical Congress was being held in Amsterdam. The group chose the pyramidal saxifrage as a Norwegian symbol because of its ability to grow in harsh mountain environments.

However, this was not a government decision. The government has never officially chosen a national flower. In fact, the pyramidal saxifrage is not one of the country’s most popular flowers. Instead, Norwegians prefer heather (Calluna vulgaris) as their first choice for Norway’s national flower.

However, Heather was also never formally elected by the Norwegian government. In 1976, a popular radio program conducted its own poll on the national flower. As a result of this referendum, heather was chosen as the first candidate for the national flower of this country.

Heather has its own characteristics, but the pyramidal saxifrage is a truly unusual plant. Moreover, it mainly grows only in Scandinavia. It is a favorite among botanists and holds a special place in Norway’s endemic fauna.

What is the Pyramidal Saxifrage?

The cone-shaped saxifrage is also known by the scientific name Saxifraga cotyledon. It is a plant belonging to the saxifrage family, the saxifrage genus. Saxifrageaceae is a family of flowering herbs that includes about 400 other species of the Saxifrage genus.

Herbaceous perennials usually grow in the northern hemisphere. This certainly applies to the cotyledons of saxifrage or pyramidal saxifrage. It is an evergreen perennial that grows in the rocky mountains of the Nordic countries. Pyramid saxifrage blooms not only in Scandinavia, but also in the mountainous regions of Iceland and neighboring mainland European countries.

The pyramidal saxifrage is an evergreen tree with large, flat green leaves with serrated edges. These can grow up to 3 inches long. It grows tall stems up to 24 inches tall throughout the growing season from spring to summer. These stems bear panicles, clusters of many cup-shaped white flowers with a blood-red marking inside. Large flower heads bloom from early summer. It also gives off a strong and pleasant scent.

Where Does the National Flower of Norway Grow?

In Norway, pyramid-shaped saxifrage flowers bloom in rocky mountainous areas. These plants are found in rock crevices and rock faces in the Norwegian mountains. They prefer penumbra and cool climates. Pyramid saxifrage can be grown in rocky areas or container gardens.

This plant requires medium to sandy soil and grows in a variety of conditions from neutral to alkaline to acidic. The plant grows fairly low to the ground and reaches only about 2 feet in height. However, it can also grow on cliffs and other rock formations. In the wild, it can be found on ledges and in moist areas such as rocky cliffs near waterfalls.

What is the Cultural Significance of the Pyramidal Saxifrage?

The pyramidal saxifrage has not been chosen as the national flower by the Norwegian people or the government. Rather, it became known as Norway’s national flower through the influence of a prominent botanist. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the pyramidal saxifrage is not particularly well known or recognized.

Botanists who support the pyramidal saxifrage argue that this mountain flower represents the Norwegian people. After all, it grows in harsh conditions. In Norway, the pyramidal saxifrage plant is called ‘berghru’. In English, it means ‘Mountain Lady’ or ‘Queen of the Mountain’ because it grows only in mountains.

However, this inaccessibility may be one of the reasons why the pyramidal saxifrage has not gained popularity. Even those in the mountains may not notice this plant hiding in the crevices of the rocks. In contrast, heather grows in the country’s vast forests.

But the botanist’s choice of pyramidal saxifrage reflects the truth about this country. Just like this flower grows in harsh conditions, so do Norwegians. Resilience, independence, respect and equality are key values ​​for Norwegians.

What Are the Other National Symbols of Norway?

Aside from the pyramidal saxifrage and common heather, there are several official symbols of the country. Here are some of the national symbols of Norway:

• It is one of Europe’s oldest coats of arms and originally represented the country’s royal family.
  The Norwegian flag is red with a white cross.
• The national anthem was written in his 1864, composed by Ricardo Nordrak and written by Björnstjärne Björnsson.
• The title is “Ja, vi elsker dette lands”, which literally means “Yes, we love this country”.