Spanish Moss

Spanish Moss

‘Tillandsia usneoides’

Spanish moss is a an air plant that grows hanging from tree branches, either in full sun or partial shade. Air plants absorb nutrients and water from the air and rainfall. Spanish moss closely resembles its namesake the beard lichen, but Spanish moss is not a moss! Actually, it is a flowering plant in the family Bromeliaceae. It will grow wherever there is a warm climate with relatively high average humidity.

Many landowners dream of having a live oak tree with Spanish moss gracefully hanging down. Since the plant does not have roots, its flowers are tiny and they rarely bloom. It is propagated mostly by fragments, small bits and pieces that blow on the wind and stick to tree limbs or from strands carried by birds for nesting material. It is not a parasite like mistletoe and rarely harms trees but is often a haven for chiggers and other arachnids.

Showing a homestead with a live oak draped in Spanish moss is one of the most recognizable scenes in many movies. When you see that tree and the branches filled with weepy moss, you know you are seeing a southern landscape. If you’ll notice in one of the beginning scenes of ‘The Patriot’ a beautiful Oak draped in Spanish Moss is shown. Spanish Moss prefers to grow on Southern Live Oaks and Swamp Cypress but it will also grow in other tree species such as Sweet gum, Crape Myrtle, other varieties of Oak and even on Pine trees.

© 2008 oOdles of infOrmation