VI
EN
Vibrant shades of purple in cold climates
In Linh Nguyen's memory, each summer road in Iceland is a vivid painting, brimming with emotion and color. That painting features the lush green of plants and flowers, the blue of the Jökulsárlón lagoon, where ice floes drift lazily from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier; the cool gray of the Hverfjall volcanic crater blending with the vibrant orange of the Namafjall Hverir geothermal area. And then, most striking of all, the gentle purple of lupine flowers, stretching like endless purple streams along the roadsides, meadows, and lake shores.
Linh arrived in Iceland in early June, right when the lupine flowers began to bloom all over the island. Her journey followed the Ring Road – a more than 1,300 km long ring road encircling all of Iceland, connecting prominent landmarks such as Vik, Egilsstaðir, Mývatn, Skógar, and Seyðisfjörður. This is also the ideal route to admire the beauty of lupine flowers, as they cover the hillsides, valleys, lakeshores, and even the roadside.
The purple hues of lupine blossoms lining the highway lead travelers into another world of summer in the cool Icelandic climate.
Related articles
Upon first seeing the lupine fields, Linh was overwhelmed and stunned by the magical purple hue. “Before coming to Iceland, I always thought it was just ice and volcanoes, as its name suggests. I never imagined there would be such a vast field of purple flowers covering the land,” she said. The photos she took in the Vik region and the fishing village of Seyðisfjörður perfectly capture the beautiful moment of the changing seasons, when the purple color seems to soothe the cold and gray of this land, which is often considered wild and harsh.
Linh Nguyen on a road lined with lupine flowers during her 10-day trip to Iceland.
The purple hues of the lupine flowers make the Icelandic landscape look like something out of a fairy tale.
"Those flowers seemed to be adding a touch of life to the ice island," Linh recalled. Throughout her travels, she encountered carpets of lupine swaying in the wind, silently covering the southern plains and the hills near Lake Mývatn with purple. On late afternoons when the light never faded, as she soaked in the hot springs at Sky Lagoon, gazing out at the Atlantic Ocean, she whispered to herself: paradise on earth is here.
The vibrant purple of the lupine flowers spreads across the foothills like a carpet of blossoms.
Not only in Mývatn, but also along the roads around Höfn, Skógar, and Egilsstaðir, lupines bloom brilliantly in late June. Compared to other prominent flowering seasons around the world, lupines in Iceland have a unique character thanks to their setting. They don't bloom in cultivated rows or in man-made parks; lupines live wild amidst the cold and sometimes harsh natural environment.
While the lavender fields of Provence (France) evoke a sweet and gentle feeling, the lupine carpets of Iceland make a strong impression with the contrast between the delicate blossoms and the rugged, somber landscape. If the tulip fields of the Netherlands suggest perfection and uniformity, lupine evokes a sense of freedom, as if nature is spontaneously painting on the icy ground. It is this very "carefree" quality that makes lupine unique and more inspiring for travelers who appreciate pristine beauty.
Lupine trees grow wild and spontaneously in nature.
This flower doesn't belong to Iceland, but it has become a symbol.
The lupine flower in Iceland, whose full name is Nootka lupine (Lupinus nootkatensis), is a species of legume native to Alaska. It was introduced to Iceland in 1945 for the purpose of soil improvement and erosion control. In Iceland's harsh climate, this flower not only adapted but also thrived, especially in the southern plains and highlands.
Lupine flowers typically begin to bloom in late May and reach their peak in mid- to late June, lasting for about three to four weeks. The dominant color of lupine is bluish-purple, but visitors can sometimes find white or pink blossoms. During peak bloom, they blanket hillsides, lakeshores, and roadsides, creating a spectacular, picturesque landscape.
Despite its captivating beauty, the lupine has also been a subject of controversy in Iceland. Many ecologists worry that its excessive growth could overwhelm native plant species. However, for many, especially tourists, the lupine has become an indispensable symbol of summer in this icy land. Many photographers and nature lovers call June "Iceland's purple month," because romantic stretches of purple can be found everywhere.
The lupine flowering season ends in July when the purple hues give way to green meadows and the sky fills with autumnal clouds. But for travelers like Linh Nguyen, who has journeyed hundreds of kilometers to immerse herself in this picturesque scene, the beauty of lupine lies not only in its color but also in the feeling of slowing down, listening to nature's whispers in a place that is almost completely pristine.
Originating elsewhere, the lupine flower arrived in Iceland and became a symbol of summer.
In the memories of those who have visited Iceland during a summer of vibrant purple flowers, even though they don't belong there, they remain an indelible part of their recollections. A picture both brilliant and fragile, much like the summer in this cold land.
