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🇰🇷 The flowers of South Korea

22 pages from South Korea: its flowers, the things made with them and the places to see them, across 20 cities and regions.

South Korea’s varied climate and terrain support over 8,000 plant species, with forests ranging from subtropical evergreens in the south to subalpine conifers in the mountains. The country is known for rare orchids, camellias, magnolias, and endemic flowers found on Jeju Island and in highland forests. Development and pollution threaten many native plants.

  • Over 8,000 plant species grow in South Korea.
  • Jeju Island has many endemic and rare flowers.
  • Temperate forests cover most of the country.
  • The DMZ protects rare plants and habitats.
  • 67 km² of forest are lost each year to development.

The plant life of South Korea

South Korea’s plant life is shaped by its mountainous landscape, peninsular setting, and a climate that ranges from warm-temperate in the south to subalpine in the highlands. Most of the land is covered by temperate forests, but evergreen broad-leaved trees grow along the southern coast and on islands like Jeju. The country is home to more than 8,000 species of plants, including both vascular and non-vascular types. Native species such as Pentactina and a range of wildflowers and trees thrive here, though ongoing land development puts many habitats at risk.

From region to region in South Korea

Plant communities change with geography. Southern coastal areas and islands like Jeju and Ulleungdo have warm-temperate forests with evergreens, camellias, and magnolias. Inland and northern regions are dominated by temperate forests of oaks and hornbeams. High mountains, such as Hallasan and Seoraksan, support subalpine forests with firs, pines, and unique alpine plants. The Demilitarized Zone, largely untouched by people, preserves a mix of riverine and forest habitats.

Flowers to know in South Korea

South Korea is home to rare and endemic flowers, especially orchids like Cypripedium japonicum and Aerides japonicum. Jeju Island hosts unique species such as Mankyua chejuense and Diapensia lapponica. Camellia japonica and magnolias are common in the south. Endangered plants include Malus komarovii (a mountain apple), several violets, lilies, and aquatic flowers like Euryale ferox. Some, like Iris odaesanensis and Viola websteri, grow only in Korea’s mountains.

Threats and protection in South Korea

Rapid land development causes the loss of about 67 km² of forest each year. Pollution and habitat destruction threaten aquatic and wetland plants, such as Euryale ferox. Many species are now endangered, with some already extinct in Korea. The Demilitarized Zone serves as a refuge for rare plants due to minimal human disturbance. Conservation efforts focus on protecting these habitats and monitoring endangered species.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Wildlife of South Korea", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Flower experiences in South Korea

All 4
🇰🇷 Gapyeong · Jan to DecThe Garden of Morning CalmA hillside garden north-east of Seoul designed to show a Korean sense of beauty in plants. 🇰🇷 Seoul · All yearYangjae flower marketSeoul's main flower market: a wholesale cut-flower hall and long greenhouses of pot plants. 🇰🇷 Changwon · Mar to AprJinhae cherry blossom festivalSouth Korea's largest cherry blossom festival, in a naval port town on the south coast. 🇰🇷 Seoul · AprilYeouido cherry blossom walkA road of old cherry trees behind the National Assembly, closed to cars at blossom time.

Cities and regions of South Korea

Seoul 5Changwon 2Gyeonggi Province 2Gyeongju 2Daejeon 1Gapyeong 1Geumgangsan 1Gyeonghwa 1Hallim 1Jeju 1Jeju Province 1Jinhae 1Jongno 1Mount Bokgyesan 1Pocheon 1Pyongyang 1Sobaeksan 1South Gyeongsang 1Ulleung-do 1Yeojwacheon 1
ShowFlowersDecorationsPlaces
ColourRedPinkOrangeYellowWhiteCreamBluePurpleGreenMaroonMany-coloured
KindWildflowerGarden flowerCut flowerFlowering treeFlowering shrubBulb flowerClimberOrchidWater flowerCactus or succulentAlpine flowerTropical flowerHerb or useful flower
In flowerSpringSummerMonsoonAutumnWinter
Hibiscus A tropical genus with large, colourful trumpet-shaped flowers 🇮🇳 India and 7 more · Wildflower Rhododendron A vast group of shrubs and trees with showy blooms in many colours 🇳🇵 Nepal and 4 more · Wildflower Aster koraiensis벌개미취 A violet-flowered perennial native to the Korean peninsula 🇰🇷 South Korea and 1 more · Wildflower Balloon flowerPlatycodon grandiflorus A perennial with balloon-shaped buds and bell-like blue or white flowers 🇨🇳 China and 3 more · Wildflower Yulan magnoliaMagnolia denudata A white-flowered magnolia from China with a citrus scent 🇨🇳 China and 1 more · Flowering tree Candelabra aloeAloe arborescens A large, branching aloe with red-orange flowers and spiky green leaves 🇿🇦 South Africa and 8 more · Wildflower Prickly Water LilyEuryale ferox A spiny water lily grown for its edible seeds in Asia 🇮🇳 India and 6 more · Water flower Japanese mountain cherryPrunus jamasakura Tall wild cherry tree of Japan with spring blossoms and edible fruit 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 more · Wildflower Rose of SharonHibiscus syriacus The national flower of South Korea with short-lived summer blooms 🇰🇷 South Korea and 4 more · Flowering shrub BalsamImpatiens balsamina The old-fashioned annual whose ripe seed pods burst at a touch 🇮🇳 India and 7 more · Garden flower CamelliaCamellia japonica A flowering shrub or small tree with rose-like blooms in red, pink or white 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Flowering shrub

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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