Pseudoscleropodium purum
neat feather-moss
Europe, North Africa, and western Asia
SunPart Shade – Full Sun
WaterMedium
Overview
Pseudoscleropodium purum is a robust pleurocarpous moss that forms pale yellow-green to whitish-green carpets and loose wefts over soil, grass, and leaf litter. The shoots are stout and regularly pinnately branched, 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long, with the branches and stem tips bluntly rounded and swollen, giving a neat, plump, almost inflated look. The concave, overlapping leaves are oval with a short abruptly narrowed tip and clasp the stem closely, contributing to the smooth, cord-like appearance of the shoots. As a non-vascular plant it has no true roots, flowers, or seeds, anchoring instead by thread-like rhizoids and reproducing by spores. Spore capsules are produced only rarely, raised on reddish stalks when they appear. It grows in grassland, heaths, dune slacks, woodland rides, and lawns, on neutral to mildly acid ground. A limitation in managed lawns is its tendency to form spreading patches that crowd out grass in damp, shaded, or poorly drained areas.
Native Range
Pseudoscleropodium purum is native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, and is widespread across the British Isles. It has been introduced to other temperate regions, including parts of North America and New Zealand, where it grows in grassland and on disturbed ground.Suggested Uses
Pseudoscleropodium purum is used in moss gardens, terrariums, and shaded naturalistic plantings where a soft green carpet is wanted. It stabilizes the surface of bare soil and retains moisture around other low plants. It also forms part of the ground layer in grassland and woodland habitats.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 6"
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Bloom Information
As a moss this species does not flower. Spore capsules are uncommon and, where formed, ripen in autumn and winter on short reddish stalks. Most spread is vegetative, through fragments and the steady extension of the shoots.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
pale yellow-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-8 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
Pseudoscleropodium purum grows in part shade to full sun in cool, moist conditions on neutral to mildly acid ground, tolerating a pH from about 5.0 to 7.0. It takes up water and minerals directly through its surface rather than from roots, so it depends on humidity and surface moisture. The moss grows on undisturbed soil, turf, and litter and spreads slowly across the surface. It needs no feeding and tolerates a wide range of soils where competition is low. Drought and heavy disturbance set it back. In lawns it builds up in damp, shaded, compacted areas where grass grows thinly.Pruning
No pruning is needed. In managed lawns the moss is reduced by raking or scarifying and by improving drainage, light, and airflow. Removed material can be composted or left to re-establish elsewhere.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons