Its approximately 300 species of vascular plants include many of those that are common in the mountains of southern Norway, some less frequent ones and some that particularly characterise the rich flora of the Dovrefjell mountains. The garden also has many mosses and lichens.

Variation over time and variation in space
Variation over time. The species that can be seen flowering in the alpine garden vary through the summer. The earliest ones, like purple saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) and spring pasqueflower (Pulsatilla vernalis), bloom already in May, and yellow lousewort (Pedicularis oederi) in early June. July is usually the month when the largest number of plants is in flower, and the floral splendour is over by mid-August. Nor can you expect to see the same species flowering year after year. Some disappear following a dry summer or frost damage in winter, some spread into the garden naturally, while a few need to be planted every so often. The garden is continually changing.

And variation in space. A network of paths guide you past shady rock faces and over moist hollows, across a stream, and over dry knolls and ridges. The area is so varied that plants with completely different habitat demands are able to find a niche within this small space.

Close to the entrance is a small area of tall-herb meadow containing large perennials which need damp, nutrient-rich soil. Tall-herb meadows are common on the slopes along the Drivdalen valley, north of Kongsvoll.

Some species that need plenty of space and light have been planted in bed and 'scree' plots. They include Norwegian mugwort (Artemisia norvegica). Here, too, is the rare Dovre whitlowgrass (Draba glabella var. dovrensis), only found in the mountains of central Norway. In southern Norway, tundra chickweed (Stellaria longipes) only occurs naturally at a couple of localities in the Dovrefjell mountains.

Along the paths – grassy patches – rock face – stream
Along the paths are plants that are associated with the activities of people. Small, grassy patches in sheltered spots contain meadow plants that require fairly deep, good soil.

On a northeast-facing rock face and beside the stream are plants that generally occur in shady and/or moist spots.

Upland heath – Windy knolls and ridges
Dry upland heath where few species thrive occupies the higher parts of the garden, characterised by dwarf birch (Betula nana), junipers (Juniperus communis), heathers, mosses and lichens, A few herbaceous plants which tolerate such poor conditions grow here, such as spring pasque-flower (Pulsatilla vernalis).

The driest, windiest knolls and ridges are covered with yellow lichens which cannot withstand being trodden upon. On the path, where visitors have worn away the lichen carpet. Just bare, hard soil, scattered tussocks of sheep's-fescue (Festuca ovina) which stand the wear and tear of trampling and wind, or dry soil remain.

Patches of bog – Willow scrub
A couple of small patches of bog display a particularly rich variety of species, including sedges (Carex) and rushes (Juncus) that require damp conditions and are not found anywhere else in the alpine garden.

Most moist hollows are covered in willow scrub. The garden contains all the species of willow (Salix) that characterise the mountains, shrub-like grey willows, green-leafed ones, and dwarf species that creep along the ground. Some of these willows are common in the garden, but a few are only found in a couple of spots. Upland downy birch (Betula pubescens ssp. tortuosa), dwarf birch (Betula nana) and their hybrids are found in the highest part of the garden.

Stonier parts of the paths – Rocky slopes
Many different plants find a foothold on the stonier parts of the paths and on small rocky slopes; they do not find enough space and light elsewhere in the garden.

The history of the alpine garden
Kongsvoll Alpine Garden was designed in 1992 by Simen Bretten, who was then in charge of the Kongsvoll Biological Station. It replaced an alpine garden that a botanist named Thekla R. Resvoll created beside the railway station in 1924. This was looked after by the University of Oslo until 1975 when it was taken over by the University of Trondheim in connection with the setting up of the Kongsvoll Biological Station. This station is now run by the Section of Natural History at the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology in the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim.

Thekla R. Resvoll
In 1953, friends and colleagues of the founder of the first alpine garden erected a monument to commemorate her at the railway station. It has since been moved to the new alpine garden. A headmaster at Dovre, Per Haugen, carved it out of soapstone from Sel, using a gravestone at Vågå as a model.

Click to read more about The Dovrefjell flora