Rare, but Present
Wildflowers grow in many parts of Moldova, along country roads, beside fields, on hillsides and in the open grassland.
Spring and early summer are especially good times to see them, although different flowers appear throughout the warmer months.
Some grow in large groups, while others are scattered among the grass.
You don't need to go far into the countryside to find them, because sometimes they are growing right beside the road.
Steppe Wildflowers
The steppe areas of southern Moldova have their own wildflowers, adapted to open grassland, dry summers and relatively little shade.
Different plants flower at different times, with spring often bringing the greatest
variety and some are small and easily missed among the grasses, while others
are more noticeable.
These grasslands are also important habitats for insects, including butterflies and wild bees.
If you visit the southern hillsides in spring, take you time to have a look at what is
growing around you.
Chamomile
Chamomile is easy to recognize by its small white petals and yellow centre.It grows in sunny places, including grassland and roadsides.
Its flowers have a distinctive smell, especially when rubbed between your fingers.
Chamomile is also familiar in Moldovan households, where it is traditionally dried and used for herbal tea.
It may be a small flower, but it is certainly a useful one and it doesn’t stand out, but it stays with you.
Rare and Protected Wildflowers
Some of Moldova's wild plants are rare or protected, and several are included in the country's Red Book of threatened species.
Among them are certain wild orchids and peonies.
Wild orchids can be found in different habitats, depending on the species, including forests and grasslands.
Wild peonies are associated with particular natural habitats and have a relatively short flowering season.
Feather grass is another characteristic plant of Moldova's steppe grasslands.
Its long, fine seed heads are particularly noticeable when the wind moves through them and if you find an unfamiliar wildflower, enjoy looking at it, take a photograph and leave it growing where you found it.
Red Poppy
The red poppy is one of the most colourful wildflowers you may come across in Moldova and ts bright red petals are easy to spot among green grass and along the edges of cultivated fields.
Poppies usually flower in late spring and early summer, and their delicate petals do not last for very long.
When several poppies grow together, they can turn an ordinary roadside into quite a colourful sight.
Cornflower
Cornflowers are recognizable by their blue flowers, which are quite different from the round shape of chamomile or the large petals of poppies.
They traditionally grow among cereal crops and along field margins, although agricultural practices have reduced their presence in some places.
Cornflowers usually bloom during late spring and summer and their blue colour makes them easy to recognize among other wildflowers.
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*Some wildflowers are protected - please leave them as you find them.
Florile sălbatice cresc în multe locuri din Moldova, pe marginea
drumurilor, pe câmpuri și pe dealuri.
Uneori le observi abia când te oprești și le privești mai atent.
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Wildflowers grow in many parts of Moldova, along roadsides, in fields
and across the hillsides.
Sometimes you only notice them when you stop and take a closer look.
