Navel Lichen: A Fascinating Arctic Rock Dweller You’ll Never Garden With (But Should Know About)
If you’ve ever hiked through the rocky wilderness of Alaska or northern Canada and noticed what looks like little brown buttons stuck to the rocks, you might have encountered navel lichen (Umbilicaria hyperborea). While this fascinating organism will never grace your flower beds, it’s worth getting to know this hardy survivor of some of Earth’s most challenging environments.
What Exactly Is Navel Lichen?
Before we dive in, let’s clear up what we’re talking about. Navel lichen isn’t a plant at all—it’s a lichen! Lichens are remarkable partnerships between fungi and algae (or sometimes cyanobacteria) that work together to survive in places where neither could make it alone. Think of them as nature’s ultimate roommate success story.
Umbilicaria hyperborea gets its navel nickname from its distinctive appearance: these circular, leathery patches have a characteristic depression or belly button in their center where they attach to rock surfaces. They’re typically brown to grayish-brown and can range from a few inches to several inches across.
Where Does Navel Lichen Call Home?
This tough little organism is native to the Arctic and subarctic regions of North America. You’ll find it clinging to acidic rocks in Alaska, northern Canada, and occasionally in high-elevation areas of the northern United States where conditions are cold enough to suit its preferences. It thrives in areas with clean air and harsh conditions that would make most garden plants throw in the trowel.
Can You Grow Navel Lichen in Your Garden?
Here’s where we need to set expectations: you absolutely cannot cultivate navel lichen in your garden. This isn’t a matter of difficulty—it’s simply impossible. Lichens like Umbilicaria hyperborea have evolved over millions of years to survive in specific wild environments, and they cannot be grown, transplanted, or encouraged to establish in typical garden settings.
Unlike plants that you can start from seeds or cuttings, lichens are complex organisms that require very specific environmental conditions, including:
- Extremely clean air (they’re actually indicators of air quality)
- Specific rock types and mineral compositions
- Precise moisture and temperature cycles
- Years or even decades to establish
Is Navel Lichen Beneficial to Have Around?
While you can’t invite navel lichen into your garden, it plays important ecological roles in its natural habitat. In the wild, it helps break down rock surfaces over time, contributing to soil formation—though this process takes centuries! It also provides food for wildlife in harsh arctic environments where other food sources might be scarce.
If you’re lucky enough to encounter navel lichen during wilderness adventures, consider it a sign that you’re in a pristine environment with excellent air quality. Lichens are incredibly sensitive to air pollution, so their presence indicates a healthy ecosystem.
How to Identify Navel Lichen
Spotting Umbilicaria hyperborea in the wild is easier once you know what to look for:
- Circular, roughly round patches on rock surfaces
- Brown to grayish-brown coloration
- Leathery, somewhat flexible texture when moist
- Distinctive central navel or depression
- Attached to the rock at this single central point
- Found on acidic rocks in cold, clean environments
The Bottom Line for Gardeners
While navel lichen won’t be joining your garden party anytime soon, it’s a fascinating example of nature’s ingenuity. These remarkable organisms remind us that some of the most interesting plants (even though they’re not actually plants!) are the ones we can only appreciate in their wild homes.
If you’re interested in supporting lichen diversity, the best thing you can do is advocate for clean air policies and protect natural habitats where these ancient partnerships can continue thriving. Sometimes the most beautiful garden is the one nature tends herself—lichens and all.
