Alpine and Subalpine Zones:
* Alpine Forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris): Delicate blue flowers thriving in exposed, rocky areas.
* Dwarf Willow (Salix herbacea): Tiny, prostrate willows with rounded leaves, forming dense mats.
* Mountain Avens (Dryas octopetala): White, star-shaped flowers on creeping stems, found in high altitudes.
* Snowbed Willow (Salix reticulata): Low-growing willow with rounded, net-veined leaves, tolerating snowy conditions.
* Moss Campion (Silene acaulis): Pink, cushion-forming flowers, a common sight in the higher reaches.
* Scottish Primrose (Primula scotica): Small, pink flowers found on exposed slopes.
* Highland Saxifrage (Saxifraga hypnoides): Creeping plant with delicate, fern-like leaves and white flowers.
Woodland Zones:
* Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris): Native conifer, forming extensive forests in the Cairngorms.
* Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia): Deciduous tree with bright red berries, popular for attracting birds.
* Birch (Betula pendula): Common deciduous tree with white bark, found in both upland and lowland areas.
* Hazel (Corylus avellana): Deciduous shrub, producing nuts in the autumn.
* Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta): Stunning carpets of blue flowers in spring, especially in the lower slopes.
Bog and Wetland Zones:
* Bog Cotton (Eriophorum angustifolium): Striking white, cotton-like seedheads in the boglands.
* Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia): Carnivorous plant with sticky leaves that trap insects.
* Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus): Low-growing shrub producing bright red berries in autumn.
* Common Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris): Carnivorous plant with sticky leaves that trap insects.
* Purple Moor-grass (Molinia caerulea): Tall grass with purple flowerheads, abundant in wet areas.
Other Notable Species:
* Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata): Found in damp meadows and bogs, exhibiting distinctive purple spots.
* Common Stonecrop (Sedum acre): Yellow, star-shaped flowers on succulent stems, growing on rocky slopes.
* Heather (Calluna vulgaris): Purple flowering shrub, forming vast swathes on the moorlands.
* Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus): Low-growing shrub with blue, edible berries.
This list provides a glimpse into the diverse flora of the Cairngorms. You can find more information about the plants of the region in field guides or online resources like the Cairngorms National Park website.
