I ’ve always been fascinated by moss . The way it grows secretive to the land and in clumps or mats is so unlike anything else . I ’ve always feel drawn to garden that utilize moss , and finding it growing unwarranted feels like a treat . moss turn nearly anywhere , and there are so many different types of moss , it ’s easy to stumble upon this type of plant biography .
The popularity of moss in gardening first began in Nipponese gardens , and today , it ’s a popular pick for rock gardens and soil cover . Because most moss disseminate in a carpeted manner and is humiliated care , it ’s an excellent alternative to eatage when you require something unripe .
If you ’re as enamored as I am with moss , you ’ve probably considered using it in your own garden . It can seem daunting since it does n’t develop like a typical rooted plant life , and there are so many diverseness to pick from . Do n’t be discouraged . We ’ll help you pick the thoroughgoing eccentric of moss for your outer space .
What is Moss?
Moss is a flowerless eccentric of greenery without roots . It ’s low - produce and often – but not always – thrives in moist areas . Typically , it spread via spores . There are over 10,000 species of moss so we wo n’t cover all of them here , but there ’s a moss variety show desirable for your needs .
Moss has been around for a long metre . It was one of the other plants to emerge on dry land 540 million years ago , along with algae and mushrooms .
Why Moss?
What ’s the point of using moss ? First of all , it ’s an attractive low - lying garden plant that help take in bare smear in a rock garden or space between stepping stones . secondly , it ’s miserable sustenance and can even maturate on rocks , depending on the variety .
Moss is beautiful as a makeweight in floral arrangements . It ’s also often used in decorative terrariums and to hold dirt wet in indoor and outdoor planters .
Peat moss , in exceptional , is used in gardening and agriculture because of its moisture retention qualities . If you ’re thinking about using peat moss , scan up on thepros and cons of using it .
moss work as a lawn replacement in areas where the weather condition and precondition are right . If you ’re tired of pout your lawn , a moss might be the answer to your job . Pick the right , quick - spreading option , and you ’ll never need to mow again .
Moss is also often used in green roof design because of its capability to tolerate drouth and absorb water . Moss requires picayune feeding and is overall a low sustainment eccentric of greenery , which makes it an excellent selection for those who do n’t want to spend a lot of sentence dealing with care .
Is Moss a Weed?
If you ’re judge to originate a perfect green lawn , you may not be too happy when moss cower into the picture . But I would n’t classify it as a weed . Most types of moss do n’t do well in competition with other industrial plant species , and few species of moss are considered invasive .
A downside of moss ? In seed start , moss can hinder increase . The key to prevent moss proliferation in a nursery setting is to encourage drain and avoid overwatering . A low pH may also elevate moss growth .
Is there any reason I might not want moss in my yard or around my home?
Nope , it ’s harmless . Even the spores do n’t pose any risk to human beings . Because moss is attracted to moisture , however , you may want to investigate further if it ’s grow tight to your home without any endeavour on your part .
Types of Moss
When talking about the types of moss out there , there are two principal classes . Pleurocarpousare ready - grow mosses with a creeping habit . They ’re the unspoilt case of mosses for rock gardens because they ’re able to attach themselves to hard open and they ’re low - raise . Acrocarpousmosses produce erect and grow in pitcher’s mound rather than in carpets . They ’re slower growing than pleurocarpous change .
Here are 20 type of moss to consider for your next garden project .
1. Common Haircap
Scientific name : Polytrichum commune
Type : Acrocarpous
Characteristics : A frilly hopeful dark-green moss that ’s up to of growing up to 16 column inch tall . This moss look like a ocean of mini evergreens . It grows almost anywhere , in USDA zones 2 - 15 . It ’s peculiarly good as a lawn substitute or between pavers .
2. Fern Moss
Scientific name : Thuidium delecatulum
Type : Pleurocarpous
characteristic : Also known as log moss , this motley grows quite fast and is capable of mature on rocks . In its dried mannikin , it ’s often used by flower store in floral system . It ’s a particularly easy - to - grow variety , and arresting in the garden thanks to its vibrant green colouration and velvety texture .
3. Heath Star Moss
Scientific name : Campylopus introflexus
Characteristics : aboriginal to areas of South America , this eccentric of moss feature leaves with a ace - like appearance . Watch out , while pretty , this moss is consideredinvasiveas it spreads quickly . It ’s unbelievable , however , to spread as quickly as a ‘ grass ’ might .
4. Baby Tooth Moss
Scientific name : Plagiomnium cuspidatum
Characteristics : Named for its sharp - toothed leave , this moss prefers cool weather condition and partial shade . It can turn in everything from corpse to Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin and even on rock aerofoil . The leaves have an almost transparent coming into court and look succulent - like .
5. Pincushion Moss
Scientific name : Luecobryum glaucum
characteristic : There ’s a intellect for its name ! It looks much like a pin cushion . The tight little mound of moss could easily act as as a catch one’s breath place for sewing implement . The foliage of this eccentric of moss is bluish unripened . It grow between 1 to 4 inch tall and can spread up to 20 column inch in diameter .
6. American Tree Moss
Scientific name : Climacium americanum
coarse name : American tree moss
Characteristics : This moss gets its name not because it tends to grow on Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree but because the little bunch resemble a forest of trees . Old hill may grow up to 5 - inches in altitude . worthy for semi - shaded locales .
7. Mood Moss
Scientificname : Dicranum scoparium
Characteristics : A gorgeous bright green variety that has a quintessential moss - similar appearance . mode moss get in cumulus and is perfect for shady careen gardens . In areas with too much sun , the moss is likely to fire . invalidate placing it in extremely moist area . alas , despite its groovy name , mood moss does n’t transfer colors like a humor doughnut .
8. Shiny Seductive Moss
Scientificname : Entodon seductrix
Also known as : Shiny aphrodisiac moss
Characteristics : A moss with an odd name that produce close to the ground and spreads quickly . Great for establishing cover for green roofs or unfinished rock music gardens . Unlike many types of moss , this one get it on the full sun .
9. Plume Moss
Scientific name : Ptilium crista - castrensis
Characteristics : Feather - like in appearing this case of moss spring up in patch and features leaves under 1 - inch long . It ’s peculiarly pretty as a decorative factor in indoor plant .
10. Spoon-Leaved Moss
Scientific name : Bryandersonia illecebra
characteristic : Has a low - spring up cushion - like habit and features long , odd - determine cylindric foliage . This type of moss extend a vitalhabitatfor different amphibians . It ’s a long - endure moss that favor humus - rich soil .
11. Ribbed Bog Moss
Scientific name : Aulacomnium palustre
Characteristics : Leaves of this moss may feature a yellowish tinge and have a hirsute visual aspect . Because the lily-livered leaves appear to be beam yellow in some luminosity , it has pull in the byname “ glow moss . ”
12. Hypnum Moss
Scientific name : Hypnum cupressiforme
Characteristics : This widespread moss exists everywhere on terra firma except for Antarctica . It ’s highly kind of a variety of environments . It grows in clumps and looks a heap like a mini forest of Cyprus trees .
13. Common Peat Moss
Scientific name : Sphagnum centrale
feature : rough-cut peat moss is a mixture that grows in swamps or bog and features a yellow - green food colour . This type works well as a replacement for a lawn .
14. Feather Moss
Scientific name : Hypnum imponens
TypePleurocarpous
Characteristics : Feather moss is well grown in shade or part - shade and prefer acidulent soil . folio are calx gullible in color but may vary between jet to yellow . Feather moss is an ideal mixture for rock gardens .
15. Juniper Moss
Scientific name : Polytrichum juniperinum
characteristic : Juniper moss has an upright growing habit and attain up to 5 inch eminent . It ’s find all over the world but prefer acidic soils and dry home ground .
16. Fire Moss
Scientific name : Ceratodon purpureus
Characteristics : Another capably named moss with green summit that give way to brownish reddish tinge closer to the priming coat . fervour moss grow in tussock . It ’s also sometimes known as violet moss .
17. Shaggy Moss
Scientific name : Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus
Characteristics : Also known as electrified cat tail moss , this case of moss has a sprawl development drug abuse and feature dark unripened foliage . Shaggy moss grows about 4 - in in height .
18. Sand Beauty
Scientific name : Racomitrium canescens
Characteristics : Baroness Dudevant beauty is a low - growing moss that ’s incredibly drought tolerant . When faced with a lack of piss , this pretty moss change to a paler super C . It works well for shaded areas , too .
19. Warnstorf’s Peat Moss
Scientific name : Sphagnum warnstorfii
characteristic : A pretty moss with color that changes depending on the amount of sunlight it receives . In the Dominicus , carpeting of Warnstorf ’s peat moss are a deep Red River . In the shade , the stem remain green . It rise close-fitting to the ground .
20. Tousled Treasure
Scientific name : Callicladium haldanianum
feature : Tousled treasure is a wispy moss that does well in semi - shaded blot and is suitable for rock’n’roll gardens . The low - growing moss may change colour when exposed to sunlight , developing a scarlet tinge .
Moss Imposters
There are plenty of non - moss out there that are misguided for the real passel . plant life that often get misidentified or mislabelled let in lichens , hornworts , and liverworts . None of these are moss .
Reindeer moss is actually a lichen , for instance . Spanish moss is another shammer that looks a lot like moss , has moss in its name , but is n’t actually a veridical moss .
For gardening design , however , even moss imposter have note value and can be used to bring texture and interest to rock garden .
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