Oxyrrhynchium hians
Swartz's feather-moss
Europe, western Asia, and North Africa
SunPart Shade – Full Shade
WaterHigh
Overview
Oxyrrhynchium hians is a common pleurocarpous moss that forms thin, spreading mats over soil, shaded banks, path edges, lawns, and the bases of trees. The irregularly branched, creeping shoots reach 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) and bear spaced, triangular to egg-shaped leaves that taper to a point and have toothed margins. A single nerve runs most of the leaf length and ends in a small spine projecting from the back of the tip. It grows mainly on moist, neutral to base-rich, often disturbed ground, and is often seen on bare soil in gardens. As a moss it has no roots and takes up water over its whole surface, so it depends on shade and steady moisture and shrivels in drought, though it revives after rain.
Native Range
Native across Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, and found in parts of North America, growing in woodland, grassland, gardens, and other shaded, moist places. It is common and widespread on neutral to base-rich ground.Suggested Uses
Grown or encouraged in shaded moss gardens, on damp soil banks, and as a green cover over bare ground beneath shrubs and trees. Its thin mats knit loose soil and hold surface moisture. It also features in naturalistic shade plantings and terrariums.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1" - 3"
Width/Spread8" - 2'
Colors
Foliage Colors
Bloom Information
As a moss, Oxyrrhynchium hians produces no flowers. Curved, cylindrical spore capsules are raised on red stalks with a beaked lid, ripening mainly in winter and spring, though capsules are not produced every year.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Green to yellow-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
Oxyrrhynchium hians grows in partial to full shade on moist, neutral to base-rich soil at a soil pH of about 5.5-7.5. As a moss it has no roots and absorbs water across its whole surface, so it needs shade and steady humidity and dries out quickly in sun or wind. It tolerates disturbed and compacted ground and low fertility, and often colonises bare soil on its own. In cultivation it suits shaded, damp soil banks, moss gardens, and the ground beneath shrubs. It revives after rain once dried, but prolonged drought kills the mats. It needs no feeding.Pruning
Oxyrrhynchium hians is not pruned. The mats spread on their own over moist ground, and fallen leaves or taller plants can be lifted off by hand to keep the moss exposed.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons