5. Limestone rock

Ericaceous plants are not usually associated with alkaline soils, but there are exceptions. The light red marble found in Moster in Sunnhordland forms the basis for a limestone soil in which we grow such lime tolerant species. This includes Cassiope tetragona, an arctic alpine plant found naturally only in the north in Norway, but which nevertheless thrives here; it is planted with Dryas octopetala (Rosaceae) with which it often co-occurs in the wild. Rhododendron lapponicum would be a natural addition to this collection, but we have yet to successfully establish it.