Rhytidiadelphus loreus
lanky moss
Cool, humid regions of the Northern Hemisphere
Container Friendly
Native to North America
SunPart Shade – Full Shade
WaterHigh
Overview
Rhytidiadelphus loreus is a large pleurocarpous moss in the family Hylocomiaceae, forming loose, untidy wefts that sprawl across the ground and over rocks and rotting logs. Individual stems run 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) long, are red to red-brown, and branch irregularly to once-pinnately. The stem leaves are 2.5–4 mm long, broadly oval at the base and abruptly narrowed to a long, channelled point that curves outward and back, giving shoots a rough, prickly look. Leaf cells are narrow and smooth, and the nerve is short and double. Reddish-brown spore capsules form only occasionally; they are egg-shaped, held horizontally on a smooth red seta, and ripen in winter. The species grows on acid, humus-rich substrates in shaded, humid conditions, especially in oceanic woodland, on heath and moorland, and on block scree. It is sensitive to drying and to high nutrient levels, so it thins out on disturbed, fertilised, or sun-baked ground and is most consistent where humidity stays high through the year.
Native Range
Native to the cooler, humid regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including western and northern Europe, parts of eastern North America, and the Pacific Northwest. It is most frequent in areas with high rainfall and mild oceanic climates.Suggested Uses
Rhytidiadelphus loreus is used occasionally in moss gardens, shaded rockwork, and woodland-style plantings for green winter ground cover. It is also recorded as an indicator of clean, humid, acid habitats in ecological survey work.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 6"
Colors
Foliage Colors
Fall Foliage Colors
Bloom Information
As a moss, Rhytidiadelphus loreus does not flower. It reproduces by spores released from reddish-brown capsules that form occasionally in winter, and it spreads mainly by fragments of stem and branch that root where they fall.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
yellow-green to red-brownGrowing 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
Rhytidiadelphus loreus is rarely cultivated and grows naturally on moist, acid, humus-rich ground in shade to part shade. It needs steady humidity and cool temperatures, and it browns and shrinks during prolonged dry spells. The species does not tolerate lime or added fertiliser, both of which favour competing grasses and weedy mosses. In gardens it appears on its own in damp, shaded lawns, on north-facing banks, and over logs, where it persists without feeding or watering. Raking and heavy foot traffic break up the wefts and reduce cover.Pruning
No pruning applies to this moss. Where it is unwanted in managed turf, scarifying or raking lifts the wefts, though it returns under damp, shaded, acid conditions.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons