Frost Flowers: Nature’s Exquisite Ice Extrusion

1 January 2015






Incredibly, the frost flower effect can happen to wood even when it has been made in to a fence or a gate, as seen above.  In this case the water is extruded through the pores in the wood rather than cracks. 

The frost flower has a number of other names: you may know them as frost castles, ice castles, ice blossoms, or even the very scientific sounding crystallofolia. Yet the name is something of a misnomer:  frost is created by water vapor. Frost flower, on the other hand, are formed from liquid water.

If you come across one – be careful!  Rather than attempt to pick it up, if you have a camera or a phone with you take a picture instead.  Frost flowers are incredibly delicate and will more often than not shatter when touched.


A tree grows wings?
First Image Credit Flickr User Lotus Flower

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