Rhytidiadelphus spp.
goose-neck moss
Container Friendly
Native to North America
SunFull Sun – Part Shade – Full Shade
WaterHigh
Overview
Rhytidiadelphus spp. is a genus of robust pleurocarpous mosses in the family Hylocomiaceae, found mainly across cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Plants form loose, springy wefts with stout, often red-tinged stems 2-8 in (5-20 cm) long, sparsely to regularly branched. The leaves are broad at the base and abruptly narrowed to spreading or strongly recurved tips, giving shoots a coarse, bristly look; mat colour ranges from yellow-green to dark green. Several species, including R. squarrosus, colonise lawns and short grassland, where they persist through cool, damp seasons. Others such as R. triquetrus carpet woodland floors and shaded banks. Reproduction is by spores borne in inclined, egg-shaped capsules on smooth red stalks, though many populations spread mainly by stem fragmentation. The genus needs cool, humid conditions and thins during hot, dry spells. As non-vascular plants, they take up water across their surfaces and hold it within the weft, releasing it slowly as the surface dries.
Native Range
Rhytidiadelphus spp. is centred on the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere, across Europe, northern Asia, and North America, extending to parts of the Southern Hemisphere. Species grow in lawns, grassland, heath, and shaded woodland floors.Suggested Uses
Used as a textured groundcover in moss gardens, shaded borders, and woodland plantings. The springy wefts also suit naturalistic and Japanese-style garden settings on cool, moist ground.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 8"
Colors
Foliage Colors
Fall Foliage Colors
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
yellow-green to dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 6 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
Rhytidiadelphus spp. grows on moist, shaded to partly open ground, tolerating acidic soils, lawn thatch, humus, and leaf litter. It favours cool, humid air and consistent surface moisture, browning during heat or drought and reviving with rain. A soil pH of about 4.5-6.5 suits most species. In lawns the genus increases where grass is thin, drainage is poor, and shade is heavy; improving light and drainage reduces it. No feeding or watering is needed in suitable climates.Pruning
Wefts are not pruned. In turf settings the moss is thinned by raking or scarifying, and growth is reduced by relieving shade, compaction, and surface moisture rather than by cutting.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing