Greenland Plants | Discover the Arctic’s Toughest Plant Life
The irony of Greenland’s name is apparent to all visitors who set foot on the island. You hardly find much green on this barren land. Nevertheless, some small but hardy plant species thrive in Greenland’s Arctic tundra, using remarkable biological adaptations to survive. However, with the rising effects of global warming, Greenland is becoming greener, a fact that is alarming climate scientists worldwide.
The connection between the country’s name and its plants
With around 80% of its land covered by ice, it seems that the name 'Greenland' is a misnomer for the world’s largest island. But the name has a historical origin tied to a fiery Viking explorer. According to the Icelandic epic, the ‘Saga of Erik the Red’, Erik the Red was the first person to use the name. He was exiled from Iceland after committing manslaughter. When he landed on the ice-covered land around 983 AD, he named it ‘Grœnland’ or ‘Greenland’.
Eric thought an inviting name was more likely to attract more settlers, and he succeeded to some extent. Therefore, the origin of the name is more closely tied to marketing tactics than to geographical realities. The areas around the fjords of southwestern Greenland are warm enough to allow limited forest growth and farming. The hillsides in these areas were ideal for the grazing of sheep and for establishing Norse settlements.
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How Greenland’s plants survive the Arctic
Greenland’s vegetation is part of the Arctic tundra biome, one of the harshest environments on Earth. Unlike the rest of the world, the history of plants arriving in Greenland dates back only 10,000 years, when the ice cover began to retreat. That makes it the youngest ecosystem on the planet. Tall trees are absent here, as the soil is shallow. Trees hardly get a few inches of soil to dig their roots into before they hit the underlying layer of permafrost.
Survival is a constant struggle for the plants of Greenland. These plants have to bear mechanical stresses resulting from the freezing and thawing cycles of the soil. The growing season of summer is extremely short, limiting the time for investing in the energy-intensive process of developing wood for a thick trunk. The reduced amount of mineral content in the soil also affects the growth cycle.
Most plants creep along the ground, preferring horizontal growth as clumps instead of vertical growth. As it gets colder in the north, grasses, lichens, mosses, fungi, and clubmosses dominate the vegetation.
Tundra plants are well-adapted to the harsh climate, and the intricate survival mechanisms they use are fascinating. They restrict vertical growth to avoid the freezing winds and use special features like waxy leaves for water storage and ‘hair’ or a woolly stem for cold protection. However, a few birch and mountain ash trees in Southern Greenland grow to a height between 4 and 6 metres. There are willows in the western region that can grow as tall as 2 metres.
These plants are specially adapted to survive the cold winters. For example, the highly reflective, light-colored bark of white birch helps it not to absorb solar radiation on cold winter days. This prevents damage from rapid cooling and heating cycles. As soon as temperatures start rising above freezing, their growth cycle begins.
How ice and soil shape what grows
Experts divide Greenland’s vegetation into three zones, starting with the subarctic or birch region in the southern fjords and warm valleys. Then comes the low-Arctic region of western and south-east Greenland that consists of willow scrubs, herb fields, and meadows. Further north is the high-Arctic region with heaths and snow-patch vegetation.
The coastal areas have milder winters that support plant growth. In fact, some communities in southwestern Greenland have flower gardens in their homes. In the north, the ocean’s influence comes down, causing more dryness, and the soil becomes increasingly infertile due to the extreme cold.
With rising temperatures across the Arctic, glaciers are receding and the permafrost is thawing. In the past three decades, Greenland has lost a staggering 28,707 square kilometres of ice cover. The faster melting of snow and warming in spring are leading to early-season plant development in Greenland. This has caused the northward expansion of vegetation growth, resulting in new vegetated areas.
The overall effect of warming on the Tundra ecosystem is extremely complex to determine. Even so, researchers assume that with less ice and snow covering the ground, evergreen plants, summer green plants, and bushes will have an advantage.
As the growing season stretches out, shrubs will emerge as the real winners, absorbing more sun rays and amplifying the warming effect. This, in turn, will decrease species richness and cause the melting of glaciers and snowfields
Fungi are one of the prime drivers of plant nutrient acquisition in Greenland, and fungal communities are largely shaped by the soil pH. Fungal richness is also related to mineral content, specifically phosphorus, in the soil. The increased growth of shrub vegetation will result in a loss of fungal diversity, altering the soil ecosystems.
Surprising plants you’d never expect in the Arctic
Come summer, and the barren landscape in Greenland turns vivid with beautiful flower meadows and lush thickets. Some common summer blooms are the dandelions, buttercups, the light blue harebell, Arctic cotton grass, and the Lupine. But at the top of the list is Niviarsiaq (meaning ‘young girl’), Greenland’s national flower.
Even with its barren terrain, Greenland is home to more than 450 flowering plants (in comparison, Svalbard has around 175) and even some ferns and orchids. Platanthera hyperborea, or the northern green orchid, is often seen in the meadows with its characteristic dense flower spike. The coastal zones of Greenland are also a suitable habitat for the Pseudorchis albida, or the small white orchid.
In late summer and early fall, Greenland’s landscape is dotted with crowberries, Alpine bearberries, blueberries, and blackberries. They are an integral part of the Inuit diet and are used in a wide variety of dishes and post-meal treats. Even Juniper berries, which are technically not berries, are a part of the local diet. You might find these berries growing along the pathway during a guided Tundra walk.
Arctic cotton grass is another widespread species in Greenland and plays an intricate role in preserving the ecological balance of wetlands. Its fluffy-cotton-like seeds have been used for stuffing pillows, making candle and lamp wicks, and even for the field-dressing of wounds. The plant is often termed as ‘Arctic Wool,’ and attempts have been made to use it as a substitute for cotton. However, the fibres are brittle and cannot bear the effects of twisting very well.
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70°50’N, 25°00’W
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Scoresbysund Northern Lights Photo Tour with Randy Hanna
70°50’N, 25°00’W
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Notable Greenland plants and where to spot them
Here are some of the notable plants that grow in Greenland.
Arctic Poppy
The Arctic poppy is one of the most resilient flowering plants that can survive in harsh Arctic environments, withstanding temperatures as low as -40 degrees. Its taproot system is strong enough to penetrate frozen permafrost layers and has special cells that produce antifreeze proteins. The delicate flowers are heliotropic and track the sun's movement to ensure a higher photosynthesis rate.
Dwarf Willow
Arguably the world’s tiniest tree, the dwarf willow is a woody plant that grows to a height of 1-6cm. While it stays close to the ground to avoid cold winds, the broad leaves collect as much sunlight as possible. Versatile in nature, the plant can grow at sea level and even thrive at an altitude of 1,500 metres.
Purple Saxifrage
Purple Saxifrage has vibrant pink-purple flowers that brighten up the tundra in early spring. It grows mainly in rock crevices and has a specialised root system with deep penetrating powers. The roots also form a symbiotic network with fungi that helps the plant to survive in low-nutrient soil. The plant forms a dense mat on the ground, reaching heights of 2-5 cm.
Mountain Avens
Mountain Avens can survive extreme conditions, and the flowers have a star-like appearance when in full bloom. The plant grows to a height of 10-30 cm and creates dense carpets over the ground. The root system has extensive adaptive properties to adjust to the harsh environment and can spread up to a distance of 1 metre from the plant’s central axis.
Labrador Tea
Labrador tea is a small shrub with leaves that look like kayaks and have brown hairs on the underside. The tea from these leaves has high medicinal value and is used to treat migraines, infections, and more. The tea is also a popular beverage for the Inuit.
Mosses & Lichens
Mosses and lichens are an important plant group in tundra ecosystems, and compared to vascular plants, are less dependent on climatic conditions. Mosses can survive dry, cold periods by suspending metabolism and preventing cell desiccation as well. About 950 lichen species grow in Greenland, and some varieties coexist with mosses.
When and where to see Greenland’s plant life
The period between late June and mid-August is best for observing Greenland’s plant life. Generally, the peak blooming period for Arctic flowers is in July. The fjord systems like Tasermiut and Tunulliarfik in southern Greenland a biodiversity hotspots. Some areas in and around the Northeast Greenland National Park are rich in plant species. These include the Hurry Inlet, Schuchert valley, South Jameson Land, Mackenzie Bay, and Scoresby Sund region.
Why these plants matter
The flora of Greenland not only plays a crucial role in the island’s ecosystem, but also helps researchers to understand the impacts of climate change. Mosses and grasses play a key role in the food web of the tundra, forming a foundation on which the arctic ecosystem rests. These plants also feed animals like hares and musk oxen and provide habitats for insects and microorganisms.
The changes in the vegetation can serve as an early warning indicating larger impacts on the ecosystem and the Arctic climate. Worth mentioning that around 80% of the biomass of the plants of Greenland is below the ground, thereby playing a crucial role in soil carbon dynamics. The strong root systems of these plants stabilise the soil while the mosses keep the soil cool for longer periods, helping it to lock more carbon.
A living record of change
Greenland is one place on the planet where the impact of global warming is clearly visible. The retreating ice is exposing bare rock and soil that is being colonised by the shrubs and other growth. The area covered by methane-producing wetlands is also increasing fast.
With the vegetation absorbing more solar energy, the surface temperature of the land will keep rising, hastening the melting of ice. As a consequence, the permafrost will degrade, and there will be changes in the microbial community in the soil. The overall effects will be significant in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and ecosystem stability.
The data hidden in Greenland flora is a treasure trove for scientists. The subtle signs provided by Arctic plants can tell researchers how the Greenland Ice Sheet will melt in the coming days. The melting of this ice is tied closely to the significant rise in sea levels in the coming 50 years.
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Photography and observation tips
The best times for taking macro shots of the Arctic flowers and their specialised adaptations are during the early hours, when the light is soft. A slightly cloudy day is ideal for shooting light-coloured flowers while preserving their textures. Choose a telephoto macro lens with a long focal length and try to create a foreground bokeh for capturing the dreamy look of a flowering meadow.
When in a fragile environment like the Arctic that is dealing with the severe impacts of climate change, it is always essential to act responsibly. We always advise visitors to stay on the marked trail to avoid damaging the delicate tundra ecosystem.
A hidden world at your feet
It is easy to get fascinated by the natural beauty of Greenland and overlook the small wonders close to the ground. These seemingly fragile plants and flowers rise from an incredibly strong foundation and are not as delicate as they look. The vegetation of Greenland is a fascinating world showcasing nature’s fantastic ability to overcome its own barriers, and it deserves a closer look.
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