1 / 2

Climacium spp.

climacium mosses

Climaciaceae Northern Hemisphere (wetlands)

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

Overview

Climacium spp. is a small genus of mosses in the family Climaciaceae, known for an upright, tree-like growth form. Shoots arise from a creeping underground stem and stand 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) tall, with a bare lower stalk topped by a rounded cluster of spreading branches that resemble a tiny palm tree or umbrella. The whole plant is firm and wiry, deep green to yellow-green, growing in loose colonies rather than dense cushions. The leaves are broad, pleated, and toothed, becoming somewhat shrivelled when dry but holding the tree-like outline. Climacium spp. grows in wet meadows, marshes, fens, swamp edges, lake shores, and damp woodland across the Northern Hemisphere, favouring seasonally flooded, base-rich to neutral ground. Cylindrical spore capsules are held upright on long reddish stalks but are produced only occasionally; most spread is by the creeping underground stems that send up new tree-like shoots. The upright, branched form gives the genus an outline unlike the mat-forming mosses around it. Plants tolerate periodic flooding and survive dry spells by becoming dormant.

Native Range

Climacium spp. occurs across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia, growing in wet meadows, marshes, fens, swamp margins, lake shores, and damp woodland. It favours seasonally wet, base-rich to neutral ground.

Suggested Uses

Climacium spp. is grown in bog gardens, moss gardens, and damp naturalistic plantings for its upright, tree-like shoots. It indicates wet, base-rich habitats and is used in teaching moss diversity. The firm shoots are sometimes used in moss craft and terrarium landscaping.

How to Identify

Identify by the upright, tree-like moss shoots with a bare lower stalk topped by a rounded head of spreading branches, standing 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) tall in loose colonies. The palm-tree or umbrella form, arising from a creeping underground stem, separates Climacium spp. from the cushion- and mat-forming mosses it grows among.

Appearance

Colors

Foliage Colors

green

yellow green

Bloom Information

Mosses do not flower. Climacium spp. reproduces by spores from cylindrical capsules held upright on long reddish stalks, but capsules are produced only occasionally. Most spread is vegetative, through creeping underground stems that send up new upright shoots.

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Climacium spp. grows in constantly moist to seasonally flooded ground in sun to part shade, on base-rich to neutral soil at the edges of marshes, fens, and woodland. It tolerates periodic flooding and survives dry spells by drying out and reviving when rewetted. The genus is occasionally grown in bog gardens and moss plantings on damp, low-nutrient ground. Drainage, drought, and heavy shade reduce it. Colonies spread on their own through creeping underground stems.