Pseudisothecium stoloniferum
Cat's tail moss
Container Friendly
Native to North America
SunFull Shade – Part Shade
WaterHigh
Overview
Pseudisothecium stoloniferum is a pleurocarpous moss in the family Lembophyllaceae that forms spreading mats and trailing wefts over its substrate. The main stems creep and branch irregularly, sending out slender, whip-like stolons that root and spread the colony, a habit reflected in its common name. The small, overlapping leaves are egg-shaped and taper to a slender point, with a single midrib, giving shoots a soft, plume-like texture when moist and shrinking close to the stem when dry. Shoots range from yellow-green to deep green depending on light and moisture. Spore capsules, when produced, are borne on short reddish stalks and are oval to cylindrical. Pseudisothecium stoloniferum grows on tree trunks, fallen logs, stumps, and shaded rock in moist coniferous and mixed forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest of North America. It depends on humid, shaded conditions and steady moisture, drying and curling in exposed or sunny sites. Like all mosses it has no roots or flowers, absorbing water directly through its surface. It spreads both by the creeping stolons and by spores.
Native Range
Native to North America, mainly the Pacific Northwest, from British Columbia and Alaska south through Washington and Oregon into northern California, growing in moist coastal and montane forests.Suggested Uses
Used in moss gardens, on shaded logs, stones, and bark, and in terrariums and woodland plantings with steady moisture. It softens hard surfaces with a green carpet in damp shade. Dry, sunny, or exposed sites are unsuited to it.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1" - 2"
Bloom Information
As a moss, it produces no flowers and reproduces by spores. Oval to cylindrical spore capsules form on short reddish stalks when conditions suit, mainly in the cooler, wetter months. Much of its spread is vegetative, through the creeping, rooting stolons.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
yellow-green to greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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 Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)
357912
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Pseudisothecium stoloniferum grows in shade to part shade with steady humidity and moisture, on bark, rotting wood, or shaded rock rather than ordinary soil. It absorbs water through its surface and dries and curls in sun, wind, or drought, reviving when moisture returns. It needs no fertilizer and takes nutrients from rain, air, and its substrate. In cultivation it is established by laying fragments or shoots onto a moist, shaded surface, where they root and knit together. Cool, damp, shaded conditions sustain it; hot, dry, or sunny sites do not. It is sensitive to air pollution, as mosses absorb substances directly from the air.Pruning
No pruning is needed or possible for this moss. Loose or overgrown patches can be lifted or trimmed to shape a planting. Fragments that are removed can be used to start new growth elsewhere.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing