Plagiomnium spp.
thyme and allied mosses
Northern Hemisphere temperate and boreal regions
SunFull Shade – Part Shade
WaterHigh
Overview
Plagiomnium spp. is a genus of about 25 species of mosses in the family Mniaceae, distributed across the temperate and boreal Northern Hemisphere with a few species farther south. Plants form low green mats 1 to 4 in (2.5 to 10 cm) tall and carry two kinds of shoots: sterile creeping stems that arch and root where their tips touch the ground, and erect fertile stems that bear the spore capsules. The leaves are oval to tongue-shaped, 0.1 to 0.4 in (3 to 10 mm) long, translucent green, with a single midrib and a border of narrow elongated cells edged with paired teeth that show under a hand lens. When dry the leaves shrink and curl against the stem, then expand flat again when moistened. Reproduction is by spores shed from cylindrical capsules that nod on reddish stalks 0.4 to 1.6 in (1 to 4 cm) tall, and vegetatively as the creeping shoots spread. Plagiomnium spp. grows on damp soil, rotting logs, stream banks, and shaded rock in woodland, where it stabilizes surfaces and holds moisture. As a non-vascular bryophyte it has no true roots and absorbs water through its leaves, so it depends on surface moisture and humid air and dries to dormancy in drought.
Native Range
Species of Plagiomnium spp. occur throughout the temperate and boreal Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and Asia, with fewer representatives in Central and South America and Africa. They grow in moist, shaded habitats across these regions.Suggested Uses
Plagiomnium spp. is used as a groundcover in shaded woodland and moss gardens, on the surface of terrariums, and to green damp stonework and logs. It binds loose soil on shaded banks and holds surface moisture.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1" - 4"
Bloom Information
Mosses do not flower; Plagiomnium spp. reproduces by spores. Spore capsules mature in spring and early summer, nodding on reddish stalks before shedding spores as the capsule mouth opens. Sterile shoots also spread the colony through the growing season.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
translucent 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
Plagiomnium spp. grows in shade to part shade on damp, acidic to neutral substrates such as humus-rich soil, decaying wood, and shaded stone. It needs steady surface moisture and humid air rather than soil watering, since it lacks roots and takes up water through its leaves. Compacted or seasonally wet sites suit it better than dry, sunny ones, where the mats brown and go dormant. In cultivation it is established by pressing fragments onto moist soil and misting until the shoots knit together. It withstands winter cold across temperate regions and stays green under snow.Pruning
Mosses are not pruned. Mats can be lifted, divided, and pressed onto new moist ground to widen a colony, and fallen tree leaves are cleared from the surface so light reaches the shoots. Torn fragments root readily and regrow.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing