What is calcicoles?

Calcicoles are a type of plant that thrives in soil with a high concentration of calcium carbonate, commonly known as lime. These plants are well-adapted to growing in alkaline or basic soil conditions, which can be found in areas with limestone or chalk bedrock.

Examples of calcicole plants include wild thyme, dog rose, and field scabious. These plants have evolved mechanisms to cope with the high pH levels in calcareous soils, such as the ability to absorb and utilize calcium ions and adaptations to their root systems.

Calcicoles are important for the maintenance of diverse plant communities in limestone grasslands and other calcareous habitats. They also have various ecological and economic benefits, such as supporting pollinators and contributing to soil stabilization.

However, calcicoles can also be invasive in non-calcium-rich habitats where they are introduced. For example, Japanese knotweed is a calcicole plant that has become a problematic invasive species in many parts of the world.