Iceland’s purple invasion: how beautiful nootka lupins became an environmental nightmare

What started as a well-intentioned soil restoration project in 1940s Iceland has transformed into a stunning yet destructive ecological crisis. The Nootka lupin, a purple-flowered plant native to Alaska, was originally introduced to help repair Iceland’s damaged soil. Nearly 80 years later, these vibrant blooms have spread across the island like wildfire, creating breathtaking purple landscapes that have inadvertently turned Iceland into a social media hotspot.

Every summer, from June through July, tourists and locals flock to photograph themselves among the endless fields of delicate purple flower spikes. The lupins now blanket fjord sides, mountain slopes, lava fields, grasslands, and even protected natural areas, creating an accidental national symbol that draws Instagram users from around the world.

But beneath this picture-perfect exterior lies a serious environmental threat. The aggressive spread of Nootka lupins is devastating Iceland’s native plant species and disrupting local ecosystems. By the time Icelandic authorities recognized the scale of the invasion—when vast swaths of the island had already turned purple—the damage was irreversible.

This cautionary tale highlights how even well-meaning environmental interventions can have unintended consequences. While the lupins continue to provide stunning backdrops for vacation photos, they represent a growing biodiversity crisis that threatens Iceland’s unique native flora. The striking purple blooms serve as a beautiful but sobering reminder of how quickly invasive species can transform entire landscapes, creating ecological problems that may persist for generations.