Moss is one of the earliest plant types in the world, and it has a broad and diverse variety of types, with over 20,000 various ranges around. Though lots of people who encounter moss in their garden discover it a nuisance, generally growing undesirable between spaces in paving or spoiling the appearance of a lawn, moss actually has many benefits, consisting of use as ground cover, submitting planters, and an option to yard.
Moss can be classified into two groups; pleurocarpous and acrocarpous. Though there are numerous distinctions between the two groups, the main one is that pleurocarpous moss has a spreading carpet-like growth routine, while acrocarpous grows upright.
American Tree Moss
| Scientific Name: | Climacium americanum |
| Mature Size: | Up to 5 inches tall |
| Soil: | Rocky, sandy, clay, heavy |
| Type: | Pleurocarpous |
| Light: | Partial shade |
| Special Features: | Can be used in wreath-making and other decorative crafts |
This moss is belonging to North America and can be discovered growing extensively across the eastern US and eastern Canada. It has a densely branched routine, with primary stems being brown, and secondary stems red, offering the result of lots of tiny Christmas trees bundled together. The leaves begin pale green and become a darker olive shade with age. This moss is typically found in forests, nature courses, along rocky ground, riverbanks, and along with streams (Illinois Wildflowers).
Common Haircap Moss
| Scientific Name: | Polytrichum commune |
| Mature Size: | Up to 2 feet tall |
| Soil: | Acidic, damp |
| Type: | Acrocarpous |
| Light: | Partial shade |
| Special Features: | Tolerant of fertilizer and pollution |
This moss is simple to relate to its long shoots of wiry spiked foliage. Stems are red-brown, and the leaves pale to bright green. Leaves are organized in such a way that when looked on from above, they appear like clusters of tiny stars. This typical moss is widespread across the western hemisphere, growing in a broad range of soils and environments.
Spoon Leaved Moss
| Scientific Name: | Bryoandersonia illecebra |
| Mature Size: | Up to 2 inches tall |
| Soil: | Rich, fertile, moist, rocky |
| Type: | Pleurocarpous |
| Light: | Partial sun and partial shade |
| Special Features: | Long life expectancy in ideal habitats |
This moss forms a thick blanket of cushioned foliage. Stems grow up to 1.5 inches long but are entirely hidden by the firmly loaded leaves covering them. The small overlapping leaves on the blunt stems provide the result of lots of juicy caterpillars. New leaves are brilliant green, while older leaves are brown. It is typically found in the United States, though in Canada, it is thought about an unusual types of moss, just being discovered in Ontario.
Springy Turf Moss
| Scientific Name: | Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus |
| Mature Size: | Up to 6 inches tall |
| Soil: | Acidic, wet |
| Type: | Acrocarpous |
| Light: | Partial shade |
| Special Features: | Tolerant of very damp conditions |
This is a widespread moss that is frequently found in grasslands and lawns. Each stem measures up to around five inches long and is sheathed in small pale green foliage that has a thick hair-like quality, pointing out in the opposite instructions of the red stems. Springy grass moss is likewise referred to as ‘amazed feline’s tail,’ which is a great way to explain this spiny moss.
Heath Star Moss
| Scientific Name: | Campylopus introflexus |
| Mature Size: | Up to 4 inches tall |
| Soil: | Moist, acidic |
| Type: | Acrocarpous |
| Light: | Partial shade |
| Special Features: | Fast-growing |
This moss is native to South America, though it is widespread in other areas, such as the UK, where it was presented in 1941. It likes to grow on decaying wood, such as old fence posts and logs, in addition to shingle and thatched roofs. It has dark red-brown stems and foliage, which is bright green when young however develops to almost black with age. This moss has a vigorous development routine and can end up being intrusive in perfect conditions.
Baby Tooth Moss
| Scientific Name: | Plagiomnium cuspidatum |
| Mature Size: | Up to 1.5 inches tall |
| Soil: | Gravel, clay, sand, loam |
| Type: | Pleurocarpous |
| Light: | Partial shade |
| Special Features: | Used by birds to build their nests |
This seasonal moss has a short life expectancy and is typically found in North America, Asia, and Africa. It is quickly identifiable from the high stalks it produces, which hover above the base foliage. These are the outcome of fertile shoots that produce nodding spore-capsules atop of slender brown-orange stalks. Foliage is medium green and has heavily toothed margins. It will not tolerate full sun or high temperatures, choosing cool temperature levels and damp habitats.
Pincushion Moss
| Scientific Name: | Leucobryum glaucum |
| Mature Size: | Up to 5 inches tall |
| Soil: | Acidic, clay, gravel, humus, sand |
| Type: | Acrocarpous |
| Light: | Partial sun to full shade |
| Special Features: | Tolerant of dry conditions |
This perennial moss kinds big dome-shaped mounds, measuring up to five inches high and 2 feet broad. Each ‘cushion’ is comprised of a spread of stems that are covered in lance-shaped gray-green leaves. The smooth and feathery foliage offers the moss a plump and soft look. The plant spreads by spores in the wind, typically in fall and winter season. It prefers wet growing conditions but is more tolerant of dry spell than the majority of other kinds of moss.
Mood Moss
| Scientific Name: | Dicranum scoparium |
| Mature Size: | Up to 5 inches tall |
| Soil: | Acidic |
| Type: | Acrocarpous |
| Light: | Partial to full shade |
| Special Features: | Works well in rock gardens |
Likewise known as ‘broom-fork moss,’ this moss is native to North America. It grows in clumps of as much as 5 inches tall, forming mounds of cushion-like patches. It produces upright, slender stems that are covered in spear-head shaped leaves, which reach up to the sky. This kind of moss is typically found in woodland environments, growing on wet soil, tree trunks, rocks, and logs. It won’t fare well in soaked areas, or completely sun.
Shiny Seductive Moss
| Scientific Name: | Entodon seductrix |
| Mature Size: | Up to 5 inches tall |
| Soil: | Acidic |
| Type: | Pleurocarpous |
| Light: | Full sun |
| Special Features: | Fast growing and tolerant of sunny spots |
This is a kind of plume moss that grows rapidly, spreading out rapidly sideways. It is typically discovered in North America, with its favorite natural environments being rotten wood, such as felled trees, old logs, and fence posts. It’s a good choice for rapidly covering void between plants or in a rock garden with an intense and appealing base. Unlike a lot of kinds of moss, shiny seductive moss enjoys complete sun
Plume Moss
| Scientific Name: | Ptilium crista-castrensis |
| Mature Size: | Up to 5 inches tall |
| Soil: | Acidic, moist |
| Type: | Pleurocarpous |
| Light: | Partial to full shade |
| Special Features: | Decorative and symmetrical |
This moss is widely discovered in Canada and northern Europe and is also called ‘ostrich-plume plume moss,’ which provides a great indication of the aesthetics of the moss. It is likewise known as ‘knight’s plume moss,’ as it was stated to resemble the feathers on a knights helmet. The feathery foliage is mid-green in color, with a spreading out growth habit that results in dense mats of it covering big locations of forest ground.
Ribbed Bog Moss
| Scientific Name: | Aulacomnium palustre |
| Mature Size: | Up to 5 inches tall |
| Soil: | Boggy, wet |
| Type: | Acrocarpous |
| Light: | Partial to full shade |
| Special Features: | Contrasting stems and leaves |
Likewise referred to as ‘bog groove moss,’ this type of moss forms substantial collections of tufts which together end up being a largely matted carpet. It is found throughout the world in boggy environments and is frequently found to be the dominant kind of moss in wetlands, with a higher rate of occurrence than most other wild moss. It has orange-brown stalks and yellow-green fine foliage. It fares best in cool environments and is widespread in Canada.
Water Screw Moss
| Scientific Name: | Syntrichia latifolia |
| Mature Size: | Up to 1 inch tall |
| Soil: | Sandy, gravel |
| Type: | Acrocarpous |
| Light: | Partial shade |
| Special Features: | Tolerant of flooding |
This moss has a really ornamental look, with little broad leaves packed in circles around the stems so that they look nearly like a carpet of small green flowers. This moss is mainly discovered growing on trees, though it will likewise grow on damp walls and rocks, and can be seen growing along the side of shaded roadways.
Glittering Wood Moss
| Scientific Name: | Hylocomium splendens |
| Mature Size: | Up to 4 inches tall |
| Soil: | Acidic |
| Type: | Pleurocarpous |
| Light: | Partial shade |
| Special Features: | Glossy foliage shimmers in the light |
This type of feather moss is widespread across the Northern Hemisphere, preferring cool climates such as Russia, Scotland, and Canada. It has red stems, which can measure up to 8 inches long, with gloss olive green foliage. It has a decorative appeal, like small branches of a spruce tree. It has anti-bacterial homes, and its uses include lining flower display screens, in addition to filling gaps in the structure of log cabins in Canada and Alaska.
Juniper Moss
| Scientific Name: | Polytrichum juniperinum |
| Mature Size: | Up to 5 inches tall |
| Soil: | Acidic, dry |
| Type: | Acrocarpous |
| Light: | Partial sun and partial shade |
| Special Features: | Enjoys dry and exposed habitats |
This kind of moss grows on every continent on the world. Unusually for moss, juniper moss prefers dry habitats and is hardly ever found growing in moist environments, it also grows well in exposed places, whereas most moss chooses a sheltered habitat. It is widespread and can typically be found growing on dry meadows, forest footpaths, quarries, and gravel. It has an attractive but unfriendly look to it, with spiky foliage in rosette-like patterns.
Shaggy Moss
| Scientific Name: | Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus |
| Mature Size: | Up to 4 inches tall |
| Soil: | Rich, moist |
| Type: | Pleurocarpous |
| Light: | Partial shade |
| Special Features: | Sprawling habit will work well as ground cover |
This fuzzy moss grows on long tail-like stems. The common name ‘shaggy moss’ is extremely appropriate as the moss has an unkempt, untidy aim to it. Older foliage takes on a brown color, while newer foliage is bright green. This moss is one of the most commonly found kinds of moss growing throughout forests in the Pacific Midwest. Its perfect habitat is moist and fertile soil, though it can likewise be found growing along riverbanks and streams and on trees.
Common Tamarisk Moss
| Scientific Name: | Thuidium tamariscinum |
| Mature Size: | Up to 6 inches tall |
| Soil: | Heavy, clay, neutral |
| Type: | Acrocarpous |
| Light: | Partial shade to full shade |
| Special Features: | Delicate fern-like appeal |
This moss has an unique lacy look. Its foliage is brilliant yellow-green and similar to a fern. It has dark stems which contrast the leaves. Unlike a lot of types of moss that prefer acidic soil, common tamarisk moss is typically discovered growing on neutral soils. It grows in thick tufts on damp ground and decomposing logs (Woodland Trust).
Catherine’s Moss
| Scientific Name: | Atrichum undulatum |
| Mature Size: | Up to 3 inches tall |
| Soil: | Well-draining |
| Type: | Acrocarpous |
| Light: | Full shade to partial shade |
| Special Features: | Will grow on almost any moist surface |
This moss is also known as ‘big star moss’ since its lance-shaped leaves spread out from the stems to produce a broad star shape when searched from above. Leaves are brilliant green with a stiff texture, which becomes crispy when the plant is dry. It is commonly discovered growing on rocks and grasslands and will tolerate a large range of soil types. It chooses a shaded position but will deal with some direct exposure to sunshine.
Dwarf Haircap Moss
| Scientific Name: | Pogonatum aloides |
| Mature Size: | Up to 1 inch tall |
| Soil: | Acidic, sandy, loamy, loose |
| Type: | Acrocarpous |
| Light: | Shade |
| Special Features: | Visually attractive |
This appealing moss has more of a look of a succulent plant than common moss. It has stubby red stems from which stiff triangular foliage grows in a rosette pattern, much like an aloe plant. It takes pleasure in heavy shade and will grow perfectly in sheltered areas on sandy soil and decomposing logs.
Rigid Beard Moss
| Scientific Name: | Didymodon rigidulus |
| Mature Size: | Up to 1-3 of an inch tall |
| Soil: | Acidic |
| Type: | Acrocarpous |
| Light: | Partial to full shade |
| Special Features: | Dense carpet-like quality |
This is the most typical moss among the Didymodon types. It is typically found growing among spaces in concrete, paving slabs, rocks, and bricks in old walls. It is comprised of lots of tiny leaves that clump together to form soft, dense mats. It has a dark emerald green color and prefers wet, shaded conditions.
