One of the first, if not the first flower to bloom is the Purple Saxifrage. This plant tries to make the most out of the very short growing season and can already start growing when it is still covered in the snow. They can make use of the little light that percolates through the snow, which gives them a little headstart compared to other plants.

Because of this adaptation, Purple Saxifrages can grow under extreme conditions, they are even found growing on the north coast of Greenland, making it the northernmost flowering plant in the world. In those places, the growing season is less as 30 days a year, making it only possible for the hardiest of plants to grow.