Flora
The flora composition of the Park and Ireland can be traced back 10,000 years to the end of the Ice Age. As the climate changed and became warmer, the huge ice sheets covering the country gradually melted. As a result, sea level rose and Ireland became an island, separate from Britain and mainland Europe. This isolation of Ireland effectively restricted any further natural migration of plants to this country, and left us with over 10,000 different species of flowering plants and ferns. Over subsequent years, human activities have caused about 300 more species of flowering plants to become naturalised. Some of these non-natives arrived here accidentally, possibly in the manure of imported livestock or mixed up in the seed of imported cereals and foodstuffs. Many others were brought here as attractive garden specimens, and have since managed to escape and thrive in the wild.
Down through the years botanists have identified and recorded more than 800 different plant species in County Wicklow. This diversity includes many rare species and is due to the varied landscape within the area. The Park consists of over 20,000 hectares of assorted habitats, from mountains to blanket bog and upland heath, broadleaved woodland, conifer plantations, lakes, rivers and streams. Each of these habitats contains specific communities of plants, which have evolved and adapted to the conditions within the habitat. To learn more about the habitats and their associated flora see our habitat pages.
For the identification of wildflowers throughout Ireland, we can recommend
www.wildflowersofireland.net
The table below has a listing of some of the flora of the Park seperated into the following categories:
English |
Irish |
Latin |
|---|---|---|
Lanceolate Spleenwort..» |
Fionncha Lansach |
Asplenium obovatum |
Hard Fern |
Raithneach Chrua |
Blechnum spicant |
Parsley Fern..» |
Raithneach Chas |
Cryptogramma crispa |
Brittle Bladder Fern |
Raithneach Bhriosc |
Cystopteris fragilis |
Narrow Buckler Fern |
Raithneach Chaol |
Dryopteris carthusiana |
Wilson's Filmy Fern |
Raithneach Shreabhnach Wilson |
Hymenophyllum wilsonii |
Beech Fern |
Raithneach Feá |
Phegopteris connectillis |
Harts Tongue Fern |
Creamh na Muice Fia |
Phyllitis scolopendrium |
Polypody Fern |
Scim choiteann |
Polypodium vulgare |
Bracken..» |
Raithneach mhór |
Pteridium aquilinum |
English |
Irish |
Latin |
|---|---|---|
Bents |
Beinteach |
Agrostis spp. |
Green-ribbed Sedge |
Cíb Fhéithghlas |
Carex binervis |
Star Sedge |
Cíb Réalta |
Carex echinata |
Bottle Sedge |
Cíb ghobach |
Carex rostrata |
Common Sedge |
Cíb Choiteann |
Deschampsia flexuoasa |
Wavy-haired Grass |
Giobfhéar |
Deschampsia flexuosa |
Common Cotton-grass/ |
Ceannbhán Caolduilleach |
Eriophorum angustifolium |
Hare's tail Cotton-grass |
Ceannbhán Gaelach |
Eriophorum vaginatum |
Sharp-flowered Rush |
Luachair Bhláthghéar |
Juncus acutiflorus |
Bulbous Rush |
Luachair Bhleibeach |
Juncus bulbosus |
Compact Rush |
Luachair Dhlúth |
Juncus conglomeratus |
Soft Rush |
Luachair Bhog |
Juncus effusus |
Heath Rush |
Luachair Chaoráin |
Juncus squarrosus |
Great Wood-Rush |
Ollghiúnach |
Luzula campestris |
Woodrush |
Giúnach |
Luzula sylvatica |
Purple Moor-grass |
Fionnán |
Molinia caerulea |
Mat Grass |
Fiteog |
Nardus stricta |
Common Reed |
Giolcach |
Phragmites australis |
White-beaked Sedge |
Gobsheisc |
Rhynchospora alba |
Black Bog Rush |
Sifín |
Schoenus nigricans |
Deer-grass |
Cíb Cheanngheal |
Trichophorum cespitosum |
English |
Irish |
Latin |
|---|---|---|
Alpine Lady's Mantle..» |
Dearna Mhuire Alpach |
Alchemilla alpine |
Wood Anemone |
Lus na Gaoithe |
Anemone nemorosa |
Harebell |
Méaracán Gorm |
Campanula rotundifolia |
Heath Orchid |
Nuacht Bhallach an Chaoráin |
Dactylorhiza maculata |
Foxglove |
Lus Mór |
Digitalis purpurea |
Sundew |
Drúchtín Móna |
Drosera spp. |
Rose-bay Willowherb |
Saileachán Francach |
Epilobium angustifolium |
Common Marsh-bedstraw |
Rú Corraigh |
Galium palustre |
Herb Robert |
Ruithéal Rí |
Geranium robertianum |
Bog Orchid..» |
Magairlín na Móna |
Hammarbya paludosa |
Bluebell |
Coinnle Corra |
Hyacinthoides non-scripta |
Lesser Twayblade |
Dédhuilleog Bheag |
Listera cordata |
Shoreweed |
Lus an Chladaigh |
Littorella uniflora |
Water Lobelia |
Plúr an Lócháin |
Lobelia dortmanna |
Yellow Cow-wheat |
Lus an tSagairt |
Melampyrum pratense var montanum |
Bog Asphodel |
Sciollam Na Móna |
Narthecium ossifragum |
White Water-lily |
Duilleog Bháite Bhán |
Nymphaea lutea |
Ivy Broomrape |
Múchóg Mhór |
Orobanche hederae |
Greater Broomrape..» |
Múchóg |
Orobranche rapum-genistae |
Wood Sorrel |
Seamsóg |
Oxalis acetosella |
Lesser Butterwort |
Bodán Meascáin |
Pinguicula vulgaris |
Heath Milkwort |
Na Deirfiúiríní |
Polygada serpyllifolia |
Broad-leaved Pondweed |
Duileasc Abhann Leathan |
Potamogeton natans |
Small White Orchid..» |
Magairlín Bán |
Pseudorchis albida |
Meadow Buttercup |
Fearbán Léana |
Ranunculus acris |
Lesser Celandine |
Grán Arcáin |
Ranunculus ficaria |
Lesser Spearwort |
Glasair Léana Bheag |
Ranunculus flammula |
Creeping Buttercup ..» |
Fearbán |
Ranunculus repens |
Roseroot |
Lus na Laoch |
Rhodiola rosea |
Alpine Saw-wort..» |
Sábhlus Alpach |
Sausserea alpina |
Mossy Saxifrage |
Mionán Caonaigh |
Saxifraga hypnoides |
St. Patrick's Cabbage |
Cabáiste an Mhadra Rua |
Saxifraga spathularis |
Starry Saxifrage |
Mórán Réaltach |
Saxifraga stellaris |
Biting Stonecrop |
Grafán na gCloch |
Sedum acre |
Greater Stitchwort |
Tursarraing Mhór |
Stellaria holostea |
Devil's-bit Scabious |
Odhrach Bhallach |
Succisa pratensis |
Germander Speedwell..» |
Lus Cré Talún |
Veronica chamaedrys |
Heath Speedwell |
lus Cré Coiteann |
Veronica officinalis |
Marsh Violet |
Sailchuach Chorraigh |
Viola palustris |
Common Dog Violet |
Sailchuach Chon |
Viola riviniana |
English |
Irish |
Latin |
|---|---|---|
Bog Rosemary |
Andraiméid |
Andromeda polifolia |
Ling/Heather |
Fraoch Coiteann |
Calluna vulgaris |
Crowberry |
Lus na Feannóige |
Empetrum nigrum |
Bell Heather..» |
Fraoch Cloigíneach |
Erica cinerea |
Cross-leaved Heath |
Fraoch Naoscaí |
Erica tetralix |
Ivy |
Eidhneán |
Hedera helix |
Honeysuckle |
Féithleann |
Lonicera periclymenum |
Bog Myrtle |
Raideog |
Myrica gale |
Cherry Laurel |
Labhras Silíní |
Prunus laurocerasus |
Rhododendron |
Ródaidéandrón |
Rhododendron ponticum |
Dog Rose |
Feirdhris |
Rosa canina |
Bramble |
Dris |
Rubus fruticosus |
Stone Bramble |
Dris na gCloch |
Rubus saxatilis |
Bilberry/Fraughan |
Tom Fraochán |
Vaccinium myrtillus |
Cranberry |
Tom Mónóg |
Vaccinium oxycoccos |
Cowberry |
Bódhearc |
Vaccinium vitis-idaea |
English |
Irish |
Latin |
|---|---|---|
Alder |
Fearnóg |
Alnus glutinosa |
Silver Birch |
Beith Gheal |
Betula pendula |
Downy Birch |
Beith Chlúmhach |
Betula pubescens |
Hazel |
Coll |
Corylus avellana |
Hawthorn |
Sceach Gheal |
Crataegus monogyna |
Beech |
Feá |
Fagus sylvatica |
Holly |
Cuileann |
Ilex aquifolium |
European Larch |
Learóg Eorpach |
Larix decidua |
Sitka Spruce |
Sprús Sitceach |
Picea sitchensis |
Lodgepole Pine |
Péine Contórtach |
Pinus contorta var. latifolia |
Scot's Pine |
Péine Albanach |
Pinus sylvestris |
Aspen |
Crann Creathach |
Populus tremula |
Wild Cherry |
Silín |
Prunus avium |
Blackthorn |
Ramh-dhraighean |
Prunus spinosa |
Douglas Fir |
Giúis Dhúghlais |
Pseudotsuga mensziesii |
Sessile Oak |
Dair Neamhghasánach |
Quercus petraea |
Dwarf Willow |
Camshaileog |
Salix herbacea |
Willow |
Saileach |
Salix spp. |
Rowan |
Caorthann |
Sorbus aucuparia |
Yew |
Iúr |
Taxus baccata |
English |
Irish |
Latin |
|---|---|---|
Bearded Lichen |
Léicean Meigeallach |
Usnea (spp.) |
Alpine Clubmoss |
Garbhógach Alpach |
Disphasiastrum alpinum |
Fir Clubmoss |
Aiteann Muire |
Hupersia selago |
Horsetail |
Eireaball Capaill |
Equisetum spp. |
Quillwort |
Lus an Chleite |
Isoetes lacustris |
Marsh Clubmoss..» |
Garbhógach Chorraigh |
Lycopodiella inundata |
Stag's-horn Clubmoss |
Garbhógach na mBeann |
Lycopodium clavatum |
Bog Mosses |
Fionnmhóinte |
Sphagnum spp. |