Dicranoweisia cirrata (Common Pincushion)

Dicranoweisia spp.

Temperate and montane regions of both hemispheres

Native to North America

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

Overview

Dicranoweisia spp. is a genus of small acrocarpous mosses in the family Rhabdoweisiaceae, comprising roughly 20 species across temperate and montane regions of both hemispheres. Plants form dense cushions or tufts 0.4-1.2 inches (1-3 cm) tall, with narrow lance-shaped leaves 2-4 mm long that curl and twist inward when dry and spread when moist. Leaf margins are entire or slightly recurved, and the costa (midrib) extends to the leaf tip. Cushions range from yellow-green to dark green, browning with age in the lower layers. Species such as D. cirrata grow on tree bark, fence wood, and acidic rock, while D. crispula occupies exposed siliceous rock at higher elevations. Spore capsules are held above the cushion on slender reddish setae 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) long, the capsule erect and cylindric with a long-beaked lid. As a non-vascular plant the genus has no roots, flowers, or true conducting tissue, taking up water across the whole surface, which limits it to humid microsites and periods of surface moisture.

Native Range

Dicranoweisia spp. occurs across temperate and cool-temperate parts of Europe, Asia, North America, and the Southern Hemisphere, with several species in montane and alpine zones. Centres of diversity lie in oceanic temperate climates with reliable atmospheric humidity.

Suggested Uses

Grown on living walls, shaded rockwork, log gardens, and in terrariums and bonsai plantings for green ground cover. The cushion-forming habit suits moss gardens and the surfacing of damp stone and timber.

How to Identify

Identified by dense green cushions on bark, wood, or acidic rock, with narrow lance-shaped leaves that crisp and curl tightly when dry, then spread on wetting. The single costa runs to the leaf apex, and erect cylindric capsules sit on short reddish setae. A cushion size of 0.4-1.2 inches (1-3 cm) and the strongly crisped dry leaves separate it from similar acrocarpous mosses.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Width/Spread2" - 1'

Colors

Foliage Colors

green

yellow green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

yellow-green to dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.0(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

rocky

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Dicranoweisia spp. grows in cool, humid conditions with consistent surface moisture and dappled to open light, depending on species. Bark- and wood-dwelling species tolerate brief drying between wettings and revive when rehydrated, while rock species of exposed sites endure stronger sun once moisture is present. Acidic substrates suit the genus, and standing water or deep leaf litter smothers the cushions. In cultivation on walls, logs, or rockwork, plants establish from fragments or transplanted cushions pressed onto a clean, slightly rough surface. Growth is slow, with cushions expanding a few millimetres per year.

Pruning

Dicranoweisia spp. requires no pruning. Old or browned cushion sections can be lifted away to expose living green tissue, and accumulated tree litter cleared from the surface to limit smothering.

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic

Moss