A unique place for very special plants

From narcissi to gentians, and sundews to Martagon lilies, Auvergne has over 4,500 common and rare species, including some forty protected plants. Auvergne’s wealth of plants is due to its geological past and its geoclimatic diversity. It has widely differing and sometimes unexpected natural environments such as the lakes, ponds, torrents and rivers, of course, but also saltwater springs, dry, rocky highland plateaux, peat bogs and deep forests.

It is impossible to talk about Auvergne without mentioning the gentian, its big yellow flowers and the apéritif liqueur made from its roots. We should also mention the majestic, protected Martagon lily. It can be easily seen on the sunny slopes or in the beech forests. It sometimes grows next to the Welsh poppy with its dazzling yellow colour.

Auvergne has a wealth of special biotopes and is proud of its rare plants. This is the case in the Hautes-Chaumes moors and in all the mountainous areas of the region. The most beautiful specimens are no doubt the yellow or alpine pasque flower, common foxgloves, pansies which turn from yellow to purple or wall artichokes with their pink flowers…

The peat bogs are a surprising natural environment. They are areas filled with stagnant water located in natural hollows formed during the glacial period. They are rare at our latitudes. Sphagnum moss covers them with a real plant "mattress". The cool, acidic environment enables rare plant species to thrive. They are often protected, such as the dwarf birch, cranberry, cotton grass, cowberry or Siberian ligularia. The "star" of the peat bog is the remarkable sundew or drosera, a small carnivorous plant.

Round-leafed sundew (Drosera rotundifolia)
It’s called the "sundew"…
This little plant, just 5 to 15 cm tall, feeds on insects.
It had to become carnivorous to make up for the lack of nitrogen in the peat bogs. It is rare and is protected nationwide. It is a remarkable example of adaptation to the environment.

Martagon lily (Lilium martagon)
Spectacular and elegant, the Martagon lily lives in the subalpine undergrowth and rocky slopes. It is said to have a thousand medicinal virtues, but it is its ornamental value that makes it such a coveted species. Now you can admire it but don’t touch it, as it is a protected species throughout the country.

Spring gentian (Gentiana verna)
The last snows retreat before the spring gentian. Its flowers, with an extraordinary bright blue blossom in clusters from April to July. It grows abundantly on the high plateaux of Auvergne (800-1500 m). Easily recognised by its yellow flowers, its roots can measure up to two metres in length. It contains active ingredients. After grinding them and macerating them in selected alcohol, a golden apéritif liqueur is obtained that has a bittersweet flavour. Traditional production can be seen in Riom-ès-Montagnes, at the House of Gentian – Avèze Centre (33 (0)4 71 78 03 04).