Germany 2017
I had some small German wildflower books when I went there, I also bought a very good book that helped me identify nearly every different flower I saw!
English names or translations, when I know them, will be in parentheses. As you see the German names, see if you can figure out what they mean, some are humorous! German translations will be in quotations.
A few common German terms translated:
Echt(es) - true
Gewöhnlich(e),(es), (er) - common
Wiese(n) - meadow
Acker - field
German Wildflower book This was the wildflower book I bought the first day we were in Germany. The title translates to "What is blooming there?". I was able to identify nearly every flower I saw on the trip! I took German in high school and college many years ago, so I was able to translate some of what I read!
Kanadische Goldrute; Solidago canadensis "Canada Goldenrod"
July 19, 2017 This plant was seen in Munich.
Weidmoos hike This beautiful meadow in the Weidmoos Preserve was carpeted in wildflowers.
Tauben Skabiose; Scabiosa columbaria
July 13, 2017 This was seen in Weidmoos Preserve in Oberammergau.
Sumpf Storchschnabel; Geranium pyrenacium "Storksbill"
July 22, 2017 Storchschnabel is one of my favorite German wildflower names, it is fun to say (Schtork-schnah-bel); it means "Stork beak"! This one was seen in Hannover, Germany.
Tauben Skabiose; Scabiosa columbaria
July 13, 2017
Sumpf Herzblatt; Parnassia palustris "Marsh Heartleaf"
July 13, 2017 This is related to Grass of Parnassus. I saw this in a field in the Weidmoos preserve in Oberammergau.
Stink Storchschnabel; Geranium robertianum "Stinking Storksbill"
July 13, 2017 This is a fun name to say in German! (Schtink Schtork-schnabel)
Blut Weiderich; Lythrum salicaria "Loosestrife"
July 14, 2017 This plant is a highly invasive marsh plant in the United States.
Alpen Edelweiss; Leontopodium alpinum
July 13, 2017 I had hoped to see this famous, rare wildflower growing high in the Alps, but it is nearly extinct in the mountains. What a surprise it was to find this growing in a pot in a cemetery in Oberammergau! We saw it in many areas of town.
Pfennigkraut; Lysimachia nummularia "Pennywort"
July 13, 2017
This interesting structure was in a large man-made lake across the street from our hotel in Munich. The structure represents the Alps which are found south of Munich.
While exploring Munich we were surprised to see this elaborate "shrine" to Michael Jackson at the base of one of the statues near the town square!
July 13, 2017
Heil Ziest; Stachys officinalis
July 13, 2017 Seen in Oberammergau, Germany
Violette Stendelwurz; Epiactis purpurata
July 13, 2017 Yet another orchid in the Weidmoos! This was one of the larger orchids we saw.
Kuckucks Lichtnelke; Silene flos-cuculi "Cuckoo Flower"
July 15, 2017 This was one of my "target plants", I was very excited to find it on our Laber Mountain hike.
Ausdauerndes Silberblatt; Lunaria rediviva
July 13, 2017 This plant is related to Money Plant with the coin-like seed pods.
Wiesen Bocksbart; Tragopogon pratensis "Meadow Goatsbeard"
July 21, 2017 This wildflower is also seen in the United States, most likely brought over by European settlers. This was seen in a field in Salzgitter Bad in northern Germany.
Schweden Klee; Trifolium hybridum "Swedish Clover"
July 13, 2017
Acker Spark; Spergula arvensis
July 11, 2017 I saw this the first day we were in Munich, it was growing in the cracks between the sidewalk stones.
After we checked into the bed and breakfast at Oberammergau I asked if there was a place with wildflowers that we could easily walk to from Oberammergau. We were told about the Weidmoos Preserve not far from where we were staying. It was a great area, I was excited to see so many different (and often new to me) wildflowers! There were small streams, beautiful grassy meadows, and lush forests. I was amazed at how many different kinds of orchids we saw! How wonderful this area had been preserved from development. All of the flowers listed July 13 were seen here!
Kleiner Baldrain; Valeriana dioica
July 13, 2017
Geflecktes Johanniskraut; Hypericum maculatum "Spotted St. Johnswort"
July 13, 2017 There are tiny black dots on the petals of this flower, thus the name "spotted". Clr: 5-y
Gewöhnlicher Frauenmantel; Alchemilla vulgaris "Common Lady's Mantle"
July13, 2017 This is a common wildflower of higher elevations in the Northern Hemisphere. I have seen it in New Mexico, Colorado, and Alaska. I like the way water beads on the leaves.
July 13, 2017 I was surprised to see this plant used as a flavoring in ice cream! I tried a cone of it in Hannover, it didn't have much taste.
Pracht Nelke; Dianthus superbus "Splendor Carnation"
July 13, 2017 I was amazed at this interesting flower when I saw it blooming in the field in the Weidmoos Preserve. What an exciting find!
Gelber Eisenhut; Aconitum lycoctonum "Yellow Monkshood"
July 13, 2017 In German, Eisenhut translates as "Iron hat". This woodland wildflower was seen in Oberammergau.
Wiesen Wachtelweizen; Melampyrum pratense
July 13, 2017
Oberammergau is famous for the Passionplay that takes place every 10 years. The next one will be in 2020 (update: it didn't happen due to the Covid-19 pandemic). This was a beautiful cemetery in the town. The headstones and markers were very ornate.
Mauer Zymbelkraut; Cymbalaria muralis "Kenilworth Ivy"
July13, 2017 I found this wildflower blooming on a gravestone in the cemetery in Oberammergau church yard.
I thought this sign was funny, it says, "Danger, Small dog with big courage"! Always close the gate.
Wundklee; Anthyllis vulneraria
July 11, 2017 "Klee" means clover in German.
Weidmoos hike Soon after we checked into our room in Oberammergau, we hiked to the Weidmoos Preserve. I was in wildflower heaven! The spire in the background is Kofel a 1,342 metres (4,403 ft) mountain. The wildflowers in the meadows were amazing!
Kohl-Kratzdistel; Cirsium oleraceum
July 13, 2017 Most thistles are pink, it was unusual to find this light yellow one.
Wiesen Flockenblume; Centaurea jacea
July 13, 2017
Schwarze Flockenblume; Centaurea nigra
July 11, 2017 This was a common roadside wildflower, I saw it in Munich.
July 13, 2017
Honigorchis; Herminium monorchis "Honey Orchid"
July 13, 2017 This little orchid was blooming in a field in the Weidmoos Preserve.
Gelber Eisenhut - whole plant
Blutwurz; Potentilla erecta "Bloodroot"
July 15, 2017 This plant was growing along the Laber Mountain trail.
Crucifixes are seen all over town.
Acker Glockenblume; Campanula rapunculoides "Field Bellflower"
July 13, 2017 These flowers are normally blue, I was surprised to find these white-flowered plants in Oberammergau.
Oberammergau is also well-known for wood carving.