Spring Wild Flowers Mongolia
If you are travelling to Mongolia in spring, you might be lucky enough to spot the first bursts of colour appearing through the dry grass. New flowers bursting open signifies the end of the brutal winter, where temperatures frequently dive below -40 degrees.
From the first blade of grass squeezing through cracks of the concrete in the city, to the first spring flowers opening on the grasslands of steppe; spring brings new life to Mongolia in a way like nowhere else.
For me, the first day of spring is the first day it rains. This year, in 2020, a spectacular thunder storm rumbled through on the first of May, and was the perfect day celebrate the changing of the seasons.
After not seeing rain for six months, this is a big deal! Smelling rain at the end of winter is like smelling rain for the first time. In the dark cold months it feels like you will never feel the sun on your skin ever again or smell the beautiful smell of raindrops falling on dry earth. There is just ice, dust, darkness and pollution. When the rain finally comes, the feeling is indescribable.
Seeing the first of the spring flowers come through is just as exciting. Here are the first spring flowers I spotted in May 2020, out at Terelj National Park in the Khentii Province of Mongolia.
For another 34 types of flowers check out- Summer Wild Flowers Mongolia
First spring flowers at Terelj National Park, Mongolia. Photo by Jenny Sandiford
12 Types of Spring Flowers and Plants- Terelj National Park Mongolia
Where- Terelj National Park Mongolia
When- May 2020
1. Purple Pasque Flower- Pulsatilla turczaninovii Kryl. & Serg.
This flower can be found in montane-steppe environments, often on sandy or stony slopes. I found this one on an open hillside just opened to the morning sun. I often spot them near the edges of pine forests. They are a perennial that flowers between May- July. In early May it is common to see just one of two flowers of these Mongolian wild flowers peeking through the dry grass. They grow between 5-35cm.
Purple Pasque Flower- Pulsatilla turczaninovii Kryl. & Serg. Photo by Jenny Sandiford
2. Russian Spiraea- Spirea media Schmidt
This is a shrub that can grow up to 2m tall. In May they are just beginning to flower with closely packed bundles of white flowers on woody shrubs. I spotted this one up a mountain just inside the forest fringe. You see lots of these small, white Mongolian wildflowers in summer, and can find them in many places; on river banks, in open coniferous and mixed forests, on stony slopes and the bottom of creek valleys.
Russian Spiraea- Spirea media Schmidt. Photo by Jenny Sandiford
3. Pink and White Pasque Flower- Pulsatilla
Another coloured variety of the Pasque flower, though I’m not sure what species this one is. Not as common as the yellow pasque, I’ve found these pretty pink and white Mongolian wild flowers on the rocky hillsides and on the edges of the forest. They are quite beautiful with the white at the center fading out to pink.
Pink and White Pasque Flower- Pulsatilla. Photo by Jenny Sandiford.
4. Tiger Iris- Iris tigridia bunge ex ledeb.
These vibrant blue or violet flowers stand out well in the dry grass in early spring. You get a few of these early flowers peeking through in May, and later in the season you get clumps of them growing in abundance. These Mongolia wild flowers are a perennial that grows 5-30cm and is found on steppe debri, stony slopes, in scree and sandy-pebbly steppes.
Tiger Iris- Iris tigridia bunge ex ledeb.. Photo by Jenny Sandiford
5. Arctogeron- Arctogeron gramineum
This Mongolian wild flower a member of the daisy family, there is only one species in this genus that is only found in Siberia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. It is found on steppe debris, rocky slopes and scree. They are a beautiful bright white daisy when fully open and are a perennial herb and grow 5-12cm.
Arctogeron- Arctogeron gramineum. Photo by Jenny Sandiford
6. Chinese Stellera- Stellera Chamaejasme L.
The red buds of the Chinese stellera are just appearing in early May. Even though they weren’t flowering yet they add a splash of colour to the dry grass. The tiny white flowers getting ready to burst through. In Mongolia this wildflower begins flowering in May and go through to September. They can be found on the steppe, in forest meadows, in pastures, on forest fringes and rocky slopes. They are a perennial herb that grows 20-50cm.
Chinese Stellera- Stellera Chamaejasme L.. Photo by Jenny Sandiford
7. Yellow Poppy (or Iceland Poppy)- Papaver nudicaule L.
In May you will see a few of these bright yellow poppies starting to appear. Later in summer in Mongolia there are fields of them everywhere, you even see them growing in ditches around the city in Ulaanbaatar. Though they are called the Iceland poppy, they don’t grow in Iceland, they are native to subpolar regions of Asia, North America, and are common in the mountains of Central Asia and temperate China. This Mongolian wildflower is a perennial that grows up to 60cm tall and are found from sandy riverbanks to forest meadows to high on rocky mountains.
Yellow Poppy (or Iceland Poppy)- Papaver nudicaule L. Photo by Jenny Sandiford
8. Wild Rhubarb- Rheum undulatum L.
From May onwards, you find wild rhubarb growing in abundance. I usually find it higher on the mountain sides, often in sunny, rocky areas. These plants grow huge and have bright red stems. It is native to Siberia, Mongolia and China. Historically, it was harvested for medical uses.
Wild Rhubarb- Rheum undulatum L. Photo by Jenny Sandiford
9. Yellow Pasque Flower- Pulsatilla patens subsp. Flavescens (zucc.) zamelis
Another version of the Pasque flower. This beautiful yellow wildflower pops up in meadows and open forest floors in Mongolia in early May. This yellow variety always has lots of clumps of flowers appearing at the same time in particular areas. You can come across a sunny gap in trees to find a small clearing just of these flowers. I’ve seen a lot of these around birch forest that are open with lots of lights. Also around the edges of larch forests.
Yellow Pasque Flower- Pulsatilla patens subsp. Flavescens (zucc.) zamelis. Photo by Jenny Sandiford.
10. Unknown furry white plant
I don’t know what this is, but I saw lots of them and thought they were quite interesting. It is a small, low to the ground plant with fluffy tentacles that weave together. Tell me in the comments if you know what it is.
Update from comments: Thank you Mer. “Hey, I think #10 (unknown furry white plant) is a young pasque flower (Pulsatilla sp.). Likely purple as the tips of the leaves are dark. This picture looks like the purple pasque flowers I have coming up in my garden in the spring.”
Unknow furry white plant. Photo by Jenny Sandiford
11. Wild Mint
I don’t know what type of mint this is. It smells very minty when the leaves are crushed. I’ve found it growing in rocky mountain areas and seems to be pretty common. Wild herbs grow all over the mountains and hillsides in Mongolia. It always smells lovely walking in the mountains, you can’t help but step on herbs carpet the ground and release their beautiful scents. I’ve also found thyme, parsley and lots of varieties or chives and onions.
Wild mint. Photo by Jenny Sandiford.
12. Rock Jasmine- Androsace incana
These pretty little flowers can be found on steppe slopes, waterside pebbles, rocks and cliffs. This Mongolian wildflower is a perenneal herb and grow between 3-8cm. They are a mix of pink, cream and white and have either a pink or white eye.
Rock Jasmine- Androsace incana. Photo by Jenny Sandiford.
Summary
I’m no flower expert but am enthusiastic about learning more about plants! I love seeing new wildflowers around Mongolia while out hiking or wandering around in nature. If you want to add your expertise or correct my IDs, please get in touch with me or leave a comment below, I’d love to hear from you.
Make sure you checkout Summer Wild Flowers of Mongolia
OTHER ARTICLES ABOUT MONGOLIA
Mongolia travel tips and advice
1. Whrere to stay in terelj national park
Email- info@resortworldterelj.com | Phone- +976 7777 7775 | Google Map | Website
Email- info@redrockresort.mn | Phone +976 7700 0111 | Google Map | Website
2. Where to stay in Ulaanbaatar
Resources- Mongolian Wild flowers
Medicinal Plants in Mongolia by WHO- PDF
Collection of Mongolian Wild Flowers Photography- Facebook Page
Download Maps Me, an offline map that works anywhere in Mongolia.
Flower Identification books- see the three below I used. The best place to find ID books in Ulaanbaatar is at the Internom book shops or the departures lounge bookshop in the airport. They can be quite hard to find in shops and online (sorry I have no links).
Flower Guide Book in Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. By authors OYUNTSETSEG Batlai and MUNKHJARGAL Myagmardorj.
The Flowers of the Mongolia Gobi Desert. By author Tungalag Radnaakhand
A Guide to Animals and Plants of Gun-Galuutai. Author of the plant section is B. Oyuntsetseg.
