Edelweiss

Leontopodium nivale

Courage, devotion, purity, rugged beauty.

Did you know

Edelweiss grows at altitudes of 1,800–3,000 m in alpine regions and is protected in most countries where it's native.
The felt-like white 'petals' are actually leaves called bracts — the true flowers are tiny yellow clusters in the center.
The dense hairs covering the plant absorb harmful UV radiation, protecting the flower at high altitudes.
The name means 'noble white' in German (edel = noble, weiss = white).
It's the national flower of Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Romania — historically picked by young men to prove their courage.