What Plants Grow in the North Pole? Flowers & Other Plant Life

What’s on your mind first when it comes to the Arctic? Is that a massive region covered with snow and ice that no plants can live in? If that’s the case, this article will provide a list of “what plants grow in the North Pole” that you should not miss. Some of the most interesting facts about Arctic plants are listed below. Let’s check it out now!

What plants live in the North Pole?

How is the Weather in the North Pole?

Undoubtedly, the Arctic is one of the coldest places in the world, with thick snow and ice covering for months throughout the year. It’s freezing in the Arctic, whether it’s summer or winter. Summers are cold, and of course, winters are even much colder.

The average winter temperature in the Arctic region is about -34°C (-30°F), while that in the summer is between 3-12°C (37-54°F). 

Also, winters in the Arctic are cold and long, while summers are cool and short. The Arctic’s coastal areas are warmer than the center of the North Pole.

It is extremely cold in the Arctic 

The Arctic doesn’t see much rainfall. The precipitation that it gets is almost always in the form of snow. There’s snow or frost on the ground throughout most of the year because the temperatures aren’t warm enough to melt it very often. 

You can read more in our guide titled “What is the weather in North Pole?”

So, what plants grow in the North Pole under such harsh weather conditions? Scroll down to find out!

What Plants Grow in the North Pole

There are over 1,700 identified plant species in the Arctic and subarctic regions of the North Pole. 

Many of them are stunted and grow close to the ground. This adaptation helps them survive the harsh winds and cold temperatures of the North Pole. 

The plants of the North Pole have adapted to little light and frigid temperatures and can still perform photosynthesis.

Because of the short growth season, North Pole plants seldom reproduce through blooms; they frequently reproduce by budding. 

North Pole plants include sedges, grasses, over 400 flower kinds, reindeer mosses, liverworts, shrubs, and cushion plants. Lichens may also be found there.

What plants grow in the arctic biome?

The North Pole's plants supply food for the Arctic animals. Herbivores in the Arctic include lemmings, caribou, voles, hares, insects, squirrels, birds, and fish. Carnivores, in turn, feed on herbivores. 

Because food is scarce, many North Pole animals eat in the summer and store more fat than southern species to survive the long winter.

Find out what kind of animals live in the North Pole in our blog for more information!

Do Trees Grow in the North Pole?

The Arctic is unsuitable for tall trees because of permafrost and a short growth season. Any remaining North Pole trees are dwarf trees. Birches and willows are some of the trees found in the North Pole.

The Arctic willow (Salix arctica) is a species of North Pole tree. The catch is that it only grows around 10cm tall, making it one of the tiniest willows. Arctic willows change color in the fall and grow in bunches.

Arctic willow

How Do Plants Survive in the North Pole?

In most cold-weather places, plants go dormant during winter. This means that they’re still alive but in a state of sleep. When the weather gets warmer in spring, the plants wake up and start growing again. 

Due to the extremely cold weather, many plants in the North Pole or the Arctic region are dormant for over half of the year. They just awaken and grow again when summers really come. 

Many plants go dormant in winter

Plants need warmth to grow. And just like plants and vegetation in warmer places, warmth is also necessary for Arctic plants.

It’s not easy to survive the harsh winters, but the plants living in the Arctic have several common features that help them do so.  

• North Pole plants grow low instead of tall so that snow blankets can protect them during winters. That’s why almost no trees can be found in the Arctic or the North Pole.

• Plants in North Pole all have small leaves that keep them from losing lots of water in warmer months.  

• Plants growing in the Arctic can use just very low amounts of sunlight for photosynthesis. 

Thanks to these characteristics, plants that live in the North Pole or the Arctic regions can survive harsh weather conditions well.

You may also like: What lives at the South Pole?

Roundup

Despite having harshly cold weather for most of the year, the Arctic is still home to many different plant species. The plant life in the northernmost point of Earth is so diverse. And that’s all for today’s article, “What plants grow in the North Pole?” We hope that you found this information helpful.