Heath Spotted-orchid © French Moments
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  • Flora of the French Alps in Vanoise [24 Flowers!]

Last Updated: 7 September 2022

The Alps are home to an impressive floral pool with more than 1,200 different varieties of plants found in the Vanoise massif only. One of the most colourful images you may have of the French Alps in summer is of high pastures thick with Alpine flowers. Here is a selection of the flora of the French Alps we photographed during one of our walks in the Vanoise National Park.

 

The Flora of the French Alps

You will find the names of the flora of the French Alps in English, French and Latin.

All these photos were taken in the surroundings of Pralognan-la-Vanoise.

 

Alpine pasqueflower – Anémone des Alpes – Pulsatilla alpina

Flora of the French Alps - Alpine pasqueflower © French Moments
Alpine pasqueflower © French Moments

 

Mountain avens – Dryade à huit pétale – thé des Alpes – Dryas octopetala

Flora of the French Alps - Mountain avens © French Moments
Mountain avens © French Moments

 

Yellow bell-flower – Campanule en thyrse – Campanula thyrsoides

Flora of the French Alps - Yellow bell-flower © French Moments
Yellow bell-flower © French Moments

 

Alpine aster – Aster des Alpes – Aster alpinus

Flora of the French Alps - Alpine aster © French Moments
Alpine aster © French Moments

 

Snow gentian – Gentiane des neiges – Gentiana nivalis

Flora of the French Alps - Snow gentian © French Moments
Snow gentian © French Moments

 

Alpenrose – Rhododendron ferrugineux or Rose des Alpes – Rhododendron ferrugineum

Flora of the French Alps - Alpenrose © French Moments
Alpenrose © French Moments

 

Alpine snow-bell – Soldanelle des Alpes – Soldanella alpina

Alpine snow-bell © French Moments
Alpine snow-bell © French Moments

 

Moss campion – Silène sans pédoncule – Silene exscapa

Moss campion © French Moments
Moss campion © French Moments

 

Spring gentian – Gentiane printanière – Gentiana verna

Spring gentian © French Moments
Spring gentian © French Moments

 

Yellow thistle – Cirse épineux – Cirsium spinosissimum

Yellow thistle © French Moments
Yellow thistle © French Moments

 

Oneflower fleabane – Vergerette à une fleur – Erigeron uniflorus

Oneflower fleabane © French Moments
Oneflower fleabane © French Moments

 

Edelweiss – Étoile d’argent – Leontopodium alpinum

Edelweiss © French Moments
Edelweiss © French Moments

 

Linaria alpina – Linaire des Alpes (or Muflier des Alpes or Gueule-de-lion des Alpes)

Linaria alpina © French Moments
Linaria alpina © French Moments

 

Stemless gentian – Gentiane de Koch or Gentiane acaule – Gentiana acaulis

Stemless gentian © French Moments
Stemless gentian © French Moments

 

Stemless gentian – Gentiane de Koch – Gentiane acaule – Gentiana acaulis

Stemless gentian © French Moments
Stemless gentian © French Moments

 

Oxeye daisy – Marguerite – Leucanthemum vulgare

Marguerite © French Moments
Oxeye Daisy © French Moments

 

Globe-flower – Trolle d’Europe – Trollius europaeus

Globe-flower © French Moments
Globe-flower © French Moments

 

Meadow rue – Pigamon à feuilles d’ancolie – Thalictrum aquilegiifolium

Meadow rue © French Moments
Meadow rue © French Moments

 

Great Yellow Gentian – Gentiane jaune – Gentiana lutea

Great Yellow Gentian © French Moments
Great Yellow Gentian © French Moments

 

Perennial Cornflower – Centaurée des montagnes – Centaurea montana

Perennial Cornflower © French Moments
Perennial Cornflower © French Moments

 

Mountain houseleek – Joubarbe des montagnes – Sempervivum montanum

Mountain houseleek © French Moments
Mountain houseleek © French Moments

 

Burnt Orchid – Orchis Brulé – Orchis ustulata

Burnt Orchid © French Moments
Burnt Orchid © French Moments

 

Heath Spotted-orchid – Orchis tacheté – Dactylorhiza maculata

Heath Spotted-orchid © French Moments
Heath Spotted-orchid © French Moments

 

Vanilla orchid – Nigritelle noire or orchis vanillé – Nigritella nigra

Vanilla orchid © French Moments
Vanilla orchid © French Moments

 

More info!

 

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Explore the Vanoise National Park © French Moments

Gems of Paris by French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

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