The vegetation is a wonderful sample of Lapland's forest and mire landscape at its best. The area has pricelessly important old-growth forests with decaying trees and mires, which are in their natural state. Studies have found that that there are 28 threatened species of vascular plants and 108 species of polyporous fungi. These are very large numbers for Lapland.

Fells

The vegetation of the fells includes almost all the species found in North Lapland, except the ones requiring calciferous soil. Some of the best known are the Alpine Azalea (Loiseleuria procumbens), the Black Bearberry (Arctostaphylos alpina), the Blue (Mountain) Heath (Phyllodoce caerulea), the Lapland Diapensia (Diapensia lapponica) the Three-leaved Rush (Juncus trifidus) and Alpine Clubmoss (Diphasiastrum alpinum).

The Lapland Diapensia in the Pallastunturi Fells. Photo: Maarit Kyöstilä

Mires

The vegetation of the National Park's mires varies between spruce and pine mires and calciferous plant species. Of calciferous plants, Orchids (Orchidaceae) are quiet common on the eastside of the fell chain especially in the Ylläs-Aakenus area. There is an abundance of Sedges in the area. The most typical ones are Wool Fruited Sedge (Carex lasiocarpa) and Beaked Sedge (Carex rostrata). Plants, which grow in damp flowering rush, are the Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), the Rannoch-rush (Scheuchzeria palustris) and the Bog Sedge (Carex limosa).

Forests

The forests of the fell chain are coniferous forest of the western Taiga biome. Their old-growth forests are of immense value in conservational terms. The natural features here are more diverse than in the surrounding areas as there are great changes in altitude and difference of rock type in the bedrock. The area includes all the northern forest types from Northern Finland spruce forest and Forest Lapland pine woodland to Fell Lapland birches and treeless fell tops. Animal species of the north are present here though the area is south of their actual habitat.

The vegetation of heaths in the area is made up for the most part of familiar forest berries; blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) and lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea). In spots where the earth is damp and fertile more lush plants such as the Wood Crane's-bill (Geranium sylvaticum) and the Oak Fern (Lastrea dryopteris) are in abundance. Such plants as the Red Currant (Ribes spicatum), the European Bird Cherry (Prunus padus), the Mezereon (Daphne mezereum) and One-flowered Wintergreen (Moneses uniflora) grow in the park's herb-rich forests. Especially stunning are the Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), the Angelica (Angelica archangelica) and the Alpine Sow Thistle (Cicerbita alpina) in brook-side herb-rich forests.

The Ostrich Fern along the Pyhäjoki Nature Trail. Photo: Maarit Kyöstilä