Dwarf shrubby perennial of the Ericaceae family, Cassiope 'Askival' is a hybrid cultivar obtained in Scotland, at the Logan garden, resulting from a cross between Cassiope lycopodioides and Cassiope wardii. Its name evokes Askival, the highest peak of the Isle of Rum, in the Inner Hebrides, which immediately sets the mountain and northern spirit of the plant.
It forms a dense and compact cushion, with finely branched stems covered with tiny, scale-like, closely overlapping leaves of a dark persistent green, giving the whole an almost mossy appearance. The height hardly exceeds 15 to 20 cm for a progressive spread.
The flowers are pure white, pendulous bells, finely edged with pink at the base, individually borne on slender reddish peduncles that stand out elegantly against the dark foliage. Their delicacy contrasts with the sturdy and robust character of the cushion.
In cultivation, its flowering extends from April to May. It requires acidic, peaty soil, constantly fresh to moist, well-drained on the surface, in semi-shade or filtered light. It tolerates neither limestone nor drought, and is suitable for heather gardens and rockeries in Atlantic or mountain climates.