I'll be visiting Austria (Vienna and Salzburg areas) and really want to see Edelweiss!! I was looking for suggestions on where to be able to view some. We will be visiting in June and I know it's unlikely I'll find it growing in the wild, though I am planning on doing some hiking in Hochkeil outside Salzburg, but I know it doesn't typically bloom until at least July.
Are there any botanical gardens where it is grown that I could see it? I know it is protected!
Thanks for any tips!
Edelweiss grows naturally at the higher alpine elevations. I'm not sure any of the Hochkeil trails would be high enough. In any event, June would be too early to see flowering.
The University Botanical Gardens in Vienna have a good size Alpine section. There's a good chance of seeing the plant thre,but again, unlikely to be in flower that early. You might try looking in some of the garden centers. Often plants for commercial sale will be in bloom earlier than those already planted in the ground.
I have never seen it in the Alps. My Frau has 55+ years ago on the Eisenspitz and Riffler in Arlberg hiking with her Father. Summer in August. She stiil has some dried ones today. I planted some in the garden from a nursery on-line a few years ago, The blue Enzian too. Tried a few yellow Enzian plants (Schnaps), but they did not grow. Probably not near high enough or the right conditions. Enzian Schnaps is not for eveyone. I buy mine from Silbertal in the Silbertal.
I visit the Vienna Botanical Garden every week as I live next door. There is Edelweiss in the Alpine Garden, which has a fee to enter. But, unfortunately, by June the Edelweiss will be long gone as it comes typically in April/May in Vienna. There is a much smaller Alpine area in the botanical garden for free at the main entrance. There is an Edelweiss plant on the far side of that section.
All of this said, I highly recommend the botanical garden for any plant/flower lover. It is free (except for the Alpine Section) and makes a nice pairing with a visit to the Belvedere Palace.
