Hylocomium spp.

Boreal and montane northern hemisphere

Native to North America

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

Overview

Hylocomium spp. is a genus of pleurocarpous mosses in the family Hylocomiaceae, represented mainly by H. splendens, known as glittering wood moss, stairstep moss, or mountain fern moss, one of the carpet-forming mosses of cool northern forests. It grows in loose, feathery layers with reddish, wiry stems that branch in a flat, two- to three-times divided, frond-like pattern. A characteristic feature is its stepped growth: each year a new frond arches up and over from the middle of the previous year frond, so the age of a shoot can be read from the tiers. Plants form extensive glossy yellow-green to mid-green mats on the forest floor, on logs, and over rock, reaching 2-8 inches (5-20 cm) deep. Like all mosses, it has no roots, flowers, or seeds and spreads by growth and by spores in capsules on reddish stalks. Hylocomium spp. is widespread across boreal and montane forests of the northern hemisphere and is a major part of the ground layer in spruce and pine woodland. It needs cool, humid, shaded conditions and thins under heat, drought, or heavy nitrogen.

Native Range

Widespread across boreal, temperate, and montane regions of the northern hemisphere, including northern Europe, Asia, and North America, on forest floors, logs, and rock.

Suggested Uses

Grown in moss gardens, woodland floors, terrariums, and shaded rockwork as a feathery evergreen groundcover. The layered, glittering texture suits naturalistic and Japanese-style plantings. It is also used as a cover layer over soil in container moss displays.

How to Identify

Recognised by reddish, wiry stems branching in a flat, frond-like, two- to three-times divided pattern, forming glossy yellow-green mats. The stepped growth, with each year frond arching out from the middle of the last, is a reliable cue. There are no roots or flowers; spore capsules sit on short reddish stalks.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 8"

Colors

Foliage Colors

green

yellow green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

This moss does not flower. Spore capsules form on reddish stalks and shed spores mainly in autumn and winter, though capsules are produced only sparingly in many populations.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Yellow-green to green, reddish stems

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Tolerates up to 3 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 Range4.0 - 6.0(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

peat loam

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Hylocomium spp. grows on cool, humid, shaded forest floors, on rotting wood, and over rock, on acidic, low-nutrient substrates. Steady moisture and shade are needed, and the mats dry, pale, and crumble in heat or sun. It does not root, so it is laid over a firm, moist, acidic surface of litter or peat to establish. High nitrogen, whether from fertiliser or air pollution, sets it back, so low-nutrient conditions suit it. In cultivation it is used in moss gardens and terrariums and kept damp with soft, lime-free water. Growth is slow, adding roughly one tier a year, and disturbed mats are slow to recover.

Pruning

No pruning is needed. Overgrown or browned sections can be lifted and re-laid on fresh moist substrate. Fallen leaves are cleared off so the mats are not buried.

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 1 gallons

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic

Mosses