Natural and non-native plants in Korkeasaari
Originally, Korkeasaari was a rocky island with rugged soil. The most common wood species included pines, birches, various types of willow and rowans. The overall appearance of the island began to change at the turn of the 19th into the 20th century, at which time large amounts of soil were transported to island with the aim of increasing the diversity of the flora. The oaks, maples, larches and many other wood species date back to this period.
While the island’s wildlife is largely marine in character, you will also see plants that are usually regarded as weeds in gardens and other areas of lush vegetation. Many are highly decorative and have beautiful flowers, as well as attractive to insects, such as butterflies, that feed on them. The wild flora is at its most resplendent on the southern shoreline and the large expanse of open rock between the Baboon Castle and the main compost area.
On the southern shoreline, the pines and birches that grow in the narrow strip of land between the sea and the road shelter plants that are typical examples of the flora native to the shores of the Gulf of Finland. While some were originally brought here by people, the island shore has offered them a favourable environment.
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