Hylocomiadelphus triquetrus
rough goose neck moss
Northern Hemisphere temperate and boreal zones
Container Friendly
Native to North America
SunPart Shade – Full Shade
WaterHigh
Overview
Hylocomiadelphus triquetrus is a large, robust pleurocarpous moss that forms loose, springy mats on the ground. Reddish, irregularly branched stems grow 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long and stand semi-erect. The leaves spread out in all directions, giving each shoot a shaggy, star-like outline; individual leaves are broadly triangular, about 4-6 mm long, pleated lengthwise, drawn to a narrow point, and edged with small teeth. The moss is yellow-green to mid-green and keeps its colour through winter. Spore capsules are produced only occasionally; when present they are egg-shaped, nodding, and held on short red stalks. It grows on neutral to lime-rich soils in open woodland, scrub, grassland, dune slacks, and shaded banks, often among leaf litter or over thin turf. It tolerates deep shade and the short droughts of well-drained sites better than many woodland mosses, reviving soon after rain. As a non-vascular plant it has no true roots and absorbs water across its whole surface, anchoring by hair-like rhizoids. It spreads slowly outward into patches up to several feet wide and can carpet large areas of a woodland floor over many years.
Native Range
Widespread across the temperate and boreal Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, northern and central Asia, and North America. In North America it occurs in both eastern and western forests.Suggested Uses
Used as a ground-covering moss in shaded, woodland-style gardens, on banks, and in terraria. It suits naturalistic and Japanese-style moss plantings on lime-rich or neutral soil. It is not suited to sunny, dry, or heavily walked sites.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 6"
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Colors
Foliage Colors
Fall Foliage Colors
Bloom Information
As a moss it does not flower. Spore capsules form infrequently, ripening through winter and spring on short red stalks. Most increase is vegetative, by fragments and the slow outward growth of the shoots.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
yellow-green to mid-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Hylocomiadelphus triquetrus grows in cool, humid, shaded conditions on moist, neutral to lime-rich ground, roughly pH 6.0-7.5. It takes light to deep shade and steady moisture, drawing water directly through its surface rather than from roots. In cultivation it is used in shaded moss gardens and terraria, where it needs shelter from drying wind and hot sun. It establishes from transplanted clumps pressed onto bare, weed-free soil or leaf litter and kept damp. It withstands winter cold well but browns if left dry for long spells. Heavy feeding and dense growth of taller plants both crowd it out.Pruning
No pruning is required. Loose debris and fallen leaves can be lifted off in autumn so the shoots are not smothered. Patches can be divided and re-laid to spread the moss onto new ground.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing