What are lichens (reindeer moss ) and why are they important in rock gardens?
What are lichens (reindeer moss ) and why are they important in rock gardens? Answer: Lichens are often spoken of in the same breath as “moss.” In fact, a nickname for lichens is “reindeer moss,” because they’re a food source for reindeer. The “reindeer moss” moniker notwithstanding, a lichen is not a moss at all. Lichens are compound organisms composed of two or three separate organisms, existing in a symbiotic relationship. The dominant partner is a fungus supplying food by photosynthesis (often through a colony of algae). Lichens are important in rock gardens and in xeriscaping because they are not dependent on a steady supply of water. Lichens survive alternate drying and wetting of their tissues, giving them an advantage in colonising difficult environments. Like mosses, lichens growing on rocks give your rock gardens the desired “weathered” look. Weathering of rocks in a rock garden is central to achieving a natural appearance — as if the rocks had always been there.
