Discover the National Flower of Switzerland: The Edelweiss

Written by Carrie Woodward
Updated: March 13, 2023
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Switzerland is a country in central Europe which shares borders with Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and Liechtenstein. Among the country’s most prominent geographic features are the towering Swiss Alps. This mountain range covers two-thirds of Switzerland and runs from Lake Geneva in the western part of the country to the eastern border shared with Austria. The Alps are also home to the world-famous national flower of Switzerland: the edelweiss.

About Switzerland

Switzerland takes up 15,940 square miles, making the country about half the size of Scotland or just over one and a half times the size of the U.S. state of Maryland. This small country has many incredible natural features despite its lack of ocean access. In particular, Switzerland is known for having tall mountains, deep lakes, bustling villages, beautiful farmland, and cities full of historic architecture.

Despite being a tiny country, Switzerland has more than 230 natural habitats. Its urban areas, meadows, forests, and rivers are home to approximately 64,000 plant, animal, and fungi species. Unfortunately, though, the 19th and 20th centuries brought significant biodiversity loss, particularly in the lakes, rivers, and farmland. Thankfully, environmental efforts have helped the country to stabilize its biodiversity in the last 20 years.

As a representation of Switzerland’s people, history, and culture, the edelweiss is a protected flower within Swiss borders. This article will describe the appearance of the edelweiss, where it grows, and its role in Swiss folklore and culture. You will also learn more about why the Swiss people chose the edelweiss as the national flower of Switzerland. Let’s dive in now!

Swiss flag waving on a mountain peak in Switzerland

Among Switzerland’s most prominent geographic features are the towering Swiss Alps.

©kavalenkava/Shutterstock.com

What is Switzerland’s National Flower?

The national flower of Switzerland is the species Leontopodium nivale, known commonly as the edelweiss. This species is a mountain flower with yellow florets and white, spiky foliage that appears in a spiky star shape and is a member of the daisy family. The English name for the plant, edelweiss, comes from two German words. The first part, edel, means ‘noble.’ The second half of the word, weiss, stands for ‘white.’ Thus, the literal translation means “noble white.”

This name can be traced back to the 1700s. However, people began using it widely in the middle of the 19th century. Thanks to a naturalist named Karl von Moll, German-speaking scientists started using the name edelweiss. This name has stuck and transcended languages, as it is now the widespread name for the flower. Some people also call it a wollblume. This means “wool flower,” referring to the plant’s fuzzy, wool-like foliage.

What is an Edelweiss?

The national flower of Switzerland, the edelweiss (Leontopodium nivale), is a mountain plant in the family Asteraceae. This mountain flower grows at high altitudes in the mountain regions of multiple European countries, including the Swiss Alps.

Technically, the edelweiss is not a flower but a set of between 500 and a thousand tiny florets grouped in several heads with white, velvety leaves. The edelweiss blooms with five or six clustered spikelet florets and white petal-like bracts that form a double star. Edelweiss flower heads come in clusters with fuzzy, velvety white foliage. These fuzzy hairs help the edelweiss to grow in harsh mountain climates where it appears at altitudes between 5,000 and 10,000 feet above sea level. Typically, edelweiss plants can grow to be about a foot tall. Each year, the edelweiss blossoms in the late summer months, typically in July, August, or September.

Edelweiss is Switzerland's national flower.

Technically, the edelweiss is not a flower but is actually a set of between 500 and a thousand tiny florets grouped in several heads with white, velvety leaves.

©JamesFarleyPhotos/Shutterstock.com

Where Does the Edelweiss Grow?

The edelweiss grows in European mountain regions, where it thrives at high elevations in rocky mountain terrain. However, the idea that it grows only in the most inaccessible, rugged parts of the mountains is actually a myth. In the 19th century, alpinists used the flower to represent their athletic feats and bold mountain climbing expeditions. Perhaps the rise of the edelweiss as a symbol of elite alpinist climbing contributed to the myth that it grows only in the hardest-to-reach places.

In reality, the edelweiss grows throughout Switzerland’s mountain regions. The average person can easily spot edelweiss growing on grassy slopes and in meadows in mountain hills and valleys. The silvery-looking shimmer can sparkle in the sunlight, making the edelweiss visible from a distance. If you want to find edelweiss, look for the blossoming plants during the summer months, between July and September.

What is the Cultural Significance of Switzerland’s National Flower? 

The edelweiss first became a national symbol of Switzerland in the 1800s. At the time, it began rising as a star of folk legend in tandem with the growing popularity of alpinism. As a mountain flower that grows in the tall Alps, mountain climbers could find and pick the flowers. Popular tales tell of mountain climbers picking the edelweiss to bring home to their loved ones, for whom it would represent courage, strength, and bravery.

Over the years, the edelweiss has been used as a symbol for cultural and political movements well outside of Switzerland’s borders. Because of that, it is often associated with other European countries, including Austria and Germany. Many people associate the edelweiss with Austrian folk culture thanks to the popularity of the film The Sound of Music.

However, in Switzerland, many legends endure. These include the famous Swiss folk legend of a man who risked his life to bring an edelweiss blossom back to the woman he loved. Mountain climbers of the towering Swiss Alps continue to associate the edelweiss with these mountains, which are doubtlessly the most distinctive geographic feIn addition, mountain Switzerland.

In modern times, the edelweiss has become a symbol of Switzerland that helped the Swiss people reconstitute what it meant to be a Swiss citizen during the tumultuous 21st century years of rebuilding Europe after world wars and significant conflicts. As the national flower of Switzerland, edelweiss appears in folk art and official media. For example, you can now find the edelweiss as a symbol for the Swiss airline, Edelweiss Air, in military iconography and Swiss artists’ work. The edelweiss lives as a representation of the Alps and is often used in Switzerland for stamps, coins, and more.

edelweiss in Swiss Alps

Swiss popular tales tell of mountain climbers picking the edelweiss to bring home to their loved ones.

©Kluciar Ivan/Shutterstock.com

The photo featured at the top of this post is © nomadphotography/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Carrie is a writer and fan of all types of plants and animals. Her apartment is home to more than dozen different houseplants and she aspires to adopt more in the near future. You can find Carrie taking long walks or reading a book under the trees in the park.

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