Alpine plants

A collection of alpine plant specimens reflecting different geographical regions.

Stone compositions, planted and beautified with alpine plants in gardens and parks, date back a couple of hundred years. The Austrian botanist A. J. Kerner (Anton Joseph Kerner von Marilaun) is believed to have been the first European to try to grow alpine plants on plains, and his book “The Culture of Alpine Plants” (Die Kultur der Alpenflanzen) appeared in 1864. In it, Kerner described his collection of alpine plants in the mountains, at altitudes of over 2000 m, and advised on cultivation. This may have influenced further cultivation and study of alpine plants in other European countries, and many botanical gardens are now starting to cultivate them.

Alpine plants are mountain plants that grow in a variety of habitats and are adapted to different ecological conditions. Ascending from 0 to 1600-2500 m above sea level, there are intermediate zones. The foothill zone is dominated by plants from a variety of habitats (grassland, steppe, semi-desert, etc.), while the montane zone is dominated by plants from forest habitats. The subalpine, alpine, and subnival zones are characterized by typical alpine plants. They are usually short, short-stemmed, with leathery, thick, hairy leaves. They are characterized by short summers and shorter growing seasons, large differences between day and night temperatures, low rainfall, dry weather, strong winds, intense solar radiation, poor soils, and cold winters. Above 1800-2500 m, the trees thin out, open areas become more frequent, and low shrubs and small patches of grassland appear. This is a subalpine zone. Later on, whole alpine meadows with a wide variety of herbaceous and spreading plants open up - the alpine zone. Ascending above 2800-3300 m towards the subalpine zone, one encounters isolated cushion and flowering plants, mosses, and lichens. This is how the top of the mountain is reached (snow zone). A tundra zone is found on some mountains. It is characterized by cold, long winters, short and cold summers, strong winds, mosses, lichens, low grasses, shrubs, and half-shrubs.

The collection aims to display examples of alpine plants reflecting the different geographical regions.

Alpine plants were first cultivated in Vilnius University Botanical Garden in the 18th century. It is believed that the first alpine plants may have been brought by J. E. Gillibert from Grodno. After the botanical garden was moved to Sereikiškės, at the foot of the Castle, under the leadership of S. B. Jundzilas, the plant collections grew rapidly, and they may have included alpine plants. The collections were further expanded with new plants under his nephew, J. Jundzilas. It was only after a long break that the botanical garden in Vingis was equipped with an alpine garden in 1927-1929, and the collection of mountain plants was expanded in 1937-1938. From 1954, when A. Lučinskienė took over the management of the garden, a great deal of attention was paid to the cultivation and study of alpine plants. A collection of 325 species of alpine-boreal plants was assembled. In 1965, the alpine garden was partially reconstructed. In 1971, two more hills were planted. In 2017, Z. Braškienė completed the renovation of one of the hills and planted over 60 alpine plant specimens. Seeds of the first alpine plants in the botanical garden in Kairėnai were ordered in 1996. Over 350 taxa have been collected from the Carpathians, the Alps, the Apennines, the Pyrenees, the Balkans, Siberia, the Caucasus, China, North America, and New Zealand. The alpine display includes 4 geographical regions: Europe (Carpathians, Alps, Apennines, Pyrenees, Balkans), temperate (mid-latitudes) Asia (Siberia, Altai, Caucasus, China, Japan), North America (Cordillera and Appalachians), and New Zealand. Plants from the foothill, montane, subalpine, alpine, nival, and tundra zones will be on display. Taxonomic and life form diversity (bulbous, herbaceous, semi-shrubs, low shrubs) will be presented.

		Gentiana acaulis L. In the Gentianaceae family, perennial, 5-10 cm carpet plant. Leaves are lanceolate-ovate, 2,5-5 cm long and 1-1,5 cm wide, glossy, forming a grayish-green rosette. Spreads by underground stolons. Single, bell-shaped flowers with 5 petals, 3-4 cm long, dark blue with green and spotted spots. It flowers in the first half of May and may be flowering in September-October. With changing climate conditions, one or more flowers may open during the winter months or may flower earlier in spring. Naturally occurring in the Alps, Apennines, Pyrenees, Carpathians, and Balkans. It grows in dry grasslands and alpine meadows from 1000-3000 m above sea level.
		Globularia trichosantha Fischer & C.A.Meyer Carpet shrub of the Plantaginaceae family with woody, creeping, and well-rooted stems at the base. Leaves are elliptic, narrower towards the base, up to 3 cm long and 1cm wide, concave, green, and toothed at the apex, forming rosettes. The flowers form plump heads, bluish. Peduncles are 10-25 cm long, bracts are lanceolate shaped, green. Flowering in June. It may be flowering sporadically in September-October due to changes in climate conditions. Naturally occurring in the Caucasus, Turkey, Syria, Crimea, and Bulgaria in dry, stony meadows from 200-2500 m above sea level.
		Drummond's mountain-avens (Dryas drummondii Richards. ex Hook.) A carpet shrub in the Rosaceae family, evergreen, spreading, woody at the base, with freely creeping and well-established stems 5-20 cm long. Leaves are leathery, oval, or oblong-ovate, 0,9-4 cm long and 0,6-2 cm wide, with toothed edges, green on the upper side, densely hairy, and whitish on the lower side. Flowers are single, drooping, on 5-15 cm long pedicels, not spreading, with 8-10 petals, yellow. Sepals are hairy. Flowering in late May/early June. May flowering in September-October, with a low number of flowering due to changes in climate conditions. Fruit is 2-3 cm long, elongated, hairy, single-seeded nut. The fruit is like a hairy ball, ornamental. Naturally occurring in Alaska, Canada, USA. Found in the Rocky) mountains, boreal forests, rocky ridges, sloping loose rocks, on slopes along streams, in the subalpine and alpine zones.
		*Biddy-biddy (Acaena novae-zelandiae* T.Kirk)** A creeping, carpet-like, perennial plant of the Rosaceae family, with creeping and well-rooted stems. Leaves are compound pinnate, unpaired, toothed, green, and glossy. The flowers are small, white, and form heads. Peduncles are 10-15 cm tall. Flowering in June-August. They form very ornamental orchards after flowering. They are greenish, round with pink spikes, and sticky. Long-lasting ornamental qualities. Naturally occurring in New Zealand, Australia, and Tasmania. Found in grassland, foothill, and montane zones.