Slovenia is a country of forests. More than half of the state’s area is forest (about 52 %). In the Alps, mixed forests set the tone at low altitudes.
Further on, as almost everywhere in the high mountains of Europe, coniferous forests predominate. Just below the tree line, which is slightly above 2000 metres, larches and pines occur. Further east in the country, there are ecologically important oak forests (especially near the border with Hungary) and some beech forests. In the south, in the karst, pines and lime trees thrive in particular. Typical Mediterranean trees such as cypresses and plane trees grow along the Adriatic Sea.
The landscape of Slovenia is dominated by forests.
In general, deciduous trees are much more diverse in Slovenia. For example, there are about 60 native deciduous tree species in the country, but only about 12 conifer species. The climate by the sea in Slovenia is warm enough for palm and olive trees. However, these are not part of the original flora, but were planted by humans.
Book day tours Slovenia online
You can book many great day trips within Slovenia by bus online.
Many of these tickets are available on the well-known website Getyourguide.com
– Bus tours to the Postojna Caves: click here
– Tours to and from Lake Bled: click here
– Tours and bus trips Ljubljana: click here
Slovenia is famous for flowers. Many flower fans travel to the small country especially because of the flower splendour in spring or early summer. Especially many different species can be found in the Alps.
Highlights of the alpine flora are, for example, the well-known white edelweiss (see picture). Less famous, but equally rare, are the yellow endemic Julian poppy or the blue Zois bellflower. It blooms in midsummer (into August) and is only found in Slovenia and in some neighbouring areas in the south of Austria. The blue gentian also blooms in the mountains of northern Slovenia. The real beauty for Alpine hikers, however, are the numerous colourful flower meadows.
A white edelweiss flower
Book day tours Slovenia online
You can book many great day trips within Slovenia by bus online.
Many of these tickets are available on the well-known website Getyourguide.com
– Bus tours to the Postojna Caves: click here
– Tours to and from Lake Bled: click here
– Tours and bus trips Ljubljana: click here
Botanists’ hearts also beat faster in the Karst. This region is also known for rare flowers such as some orchid species. Here, as on the coast, it rains little in summer. The rather mild winters, on the other hand, are rich in rain.
Many extremely rare plants also grow on the former salt extraction areas on the southern Mediterranean coast near the Croatian border. Because of the rare plants such as sea fennel or a species of sand carnation, the area of the Secovlje salt pans is now strictly protected.
Slovenia’s flora is therefore very rich in species and very different in the various climatic regions.
On this page you will find information about animals in Slovenia.