5 beautiful plants common in Finland

Finland, which seized the top spot on the 2018 World Happiness Report, is known for its stunning natural beauty. The country has about 188,000 lakes and vast forests as well as wonderful Baltic islands.

A lake along a forest in Finland. /VCG Photo

The pristine landscapes provide wonderful habitats for wildlife, allowing varieties of animals and plants to live in "the land of a thousand lakes." In this article, five commonly-seen plants in Finland are introduced.

Lily of the valley

Lilies-of-the-valley /VCG Photo

The lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is Finland's national flower. It's also called May bells, Our Lady's tears and Mary's tears. The flower has six white tepals and is highly poisonous. If ingested, even in small amounts, the plant can cause vomiting, pain, reduced heart rate, skin rashes and blurred vision.

Lilies of the valley. /VCG Photo

These delicate clusters of white blossoms are very common in the country. Their Finnish name, Kielo, is also a traditional name for Finnish girls.

Spreading bellflower

Spreading bellflowers. /VCG Photo

Spreading bellflowers (Campanula patula) grow as a biennial in Finland. The flower in Finland is more reddish compared with its relatives in other countries. White-flowered plants can also be found, but the purple ones are much more common.

Spreading bellflowers. /VCG Photo

The flower is bell-shaped, narrow-based and its flowering time is between June and September. It's comprised of 300-400 species with the majority growing in mountainous areas of Europe.

Rosebay willowherb

Rosebay willowherbs. /VCG Photo

The flower is also called fireweed in North America. It's native throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The flower is often abundant in open fields and particularly in burned-over lands. Since they can thrive in disturbed sites, it's often used to reestablish vegetation. It's proved that they can speed up the recovery of disturbed lands and prevent further damage.

Bird cherry

Bird cherries. /VCG photo

Bird cherry (Prunus padus) is also called hagberry or Mayday tree. It's native to northern Europe and northern Asia. Their flowers appear in April and are strongly scented. The fruits are reddish-black, bitter cherries which are eaten by birds.

Bird cherries. /VCG photo

St. John's Wort

St. John's Wort. /VCG Photo

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a herbaceous perennial plant with yellow, star-shaped flowers and five petals. It is native to temperate parts of Europe and Asia and can grow to 50-100cm tall.

St. John's Wort. /VCG Photo

It's used as a medicinal herb for depression, nervousness, trouble sleeping and other symptoms. Scientists think that chemicals in St. John's wort such as hypericin and hyperforin can help to regulate mood.

Quiz

5 common plants in Finland