Do you know what plants grow in the North Pole?

Covered by snow and ice all year round, do you think there is any kind of vegetation living in the North Pole? Well, in fact, the world’s northernmost point is homes to a wide range of plants and vegetation. Yep, that’s the truth. Keep reading on to know what plants grow in the North Pole right below here. But first, why don’t we spend a minute learning some quick facts about the weather in the Arctic to know how severe it is?

The temperatures are so low here no matter whether it’s winter or summer

How cold is the Arctic weather?

The Arctic weather is certainly so cold. This region is blanketed by thick snow and ice for months during the year. The temperatures are so low here no matter whether it’s winter or summer. Winters in the North Pole are cold and long whereas its summers are brief and cool.

The average Arctic winter temperature is -34 degrees Celsius (-30 degrees Fahrenheit) while that in the summertime is between 3-12 degrees Celsius (37-54 degrees Fahrenheit). The coastal areas are always warmer than the North Pole’s central part.

. Winters in the North Pole are cold and long whereas its summers are brief and cool

The Arctic also doesn’t get a lot of rainfall. The precipitation seen here is almost always in form of snow. In fact, there’s snow or frost on the ground during most of the year since the temperatures aren’t high enough to melt that very often. So, the question here is that what plants grow in the North Pole under such severe weather conditions? 

What plants grow in the North Pole?

Though the weather in the Arctic is so severe, this region has quite diverse plant life. There are up to more than 1700 plants of species living in the Arctic with a large portion covered by tundra biome. What a surprise! 

When it comes to what plants grow in the North Pole, well, mosses and lichens are the most popular form of plant life in the Arctic area. They primarily gown on the rocks’ underside. Besides, flowering plants also grow in this region but as not as common as mosses and lichens. 

What plants grow in the North Pole: This is ‘Salix arctica’ (also known as the Arctic willow) – one of the smallest willow on the planet

The Arctic tundra is also homes to grasses, shrubs, and forbs besides lichens and mosses. All the plants living in this place are short in heights that are as low as 50cm (20 inches). There tend to be more shrubs in the southern part of the Arctic, while its northern area has less plant cover. Also, cotton grasses and tussock grasses can be found in the wet areas of the Arctic tundra.

If there is something that can be called “trees” growing in the Arctic, it should be ‘Salix arctica’ (also known as the Arctic willow). Well, this plant, in fact, is a dwarf shrub that’s also food for animals living in the North Pole like musk oxen, caribou, and hares. 

As you can see, the plant life in the Arctic is really, really diverse. Of course, it’s not easy to survive in the very harsh weather of the North Pole. But by growing in different ways than plants and vegetations in warmer locations, the Arctic plants able to survive so well in harsh conditions of the North Pole.

Conclusion

In spite of having harshly cold weather during most of the year, the Arctic still features a diverse plant life with a wide range of different species of plants. That’s so amazing! Now, you know what plants grow in the North Pole, right?

See more: cold weather safety tips