What blooms there?

The quartzite ridge of Hunsrück along with the Nahe, Mosel, and Rhine ravines account for the fact that the Rhineland-Pfalz region is one of the states in Germany with the greatest abundance of rocks. Due to the special microclimate of various locations in the Nahe Valley and Hunsrück plants and plant communities have evolved here over the millennium, some of which are only found in these locations. For example, there is the Sponheim saxifrage (Saxifraga sponhemica), special types of Killearney fern (Trichomanes speciosum), as well as several rare types of rock moss. These unique habitats, which have evolved locally in the extremely delicate ecosystem of the region, are, for the most part, protected in nature preserves today, whose task it is "to preserve rare and threatened wild plants and plant communities". At least as interesting and attractive are also the countless wildflower species, which you encounter at every turn on hikes or bike tours in the Nahe Valley and Hunsrück. Such wildflowers, with their varying colors, forms, and scents, give their particular, unmistakable impression at any time of year. This, in turn, allows the alert visitor to the region the possibility of consciously witnessing all the nuances of the seasonal changes. It is worth noting that already a third of the approximately 3,000 wild plants in Germany are listed as endangered on the Red List. Awareness of this and helping to protect them is certainly a worthwhile endeavour.

Pocket guides are very helpful with the identification of wildflowers: for example Kremer B, Wildblumen erkennen und bestimmen. Mosaik Verlag München, 2001