Syntrichia ruralis
star moss
SunFull Sun – Part Shade
Overview
Syntrichia ruralis is a robust cushion- or turf-forming moss of dry, sunny, lime-rich ground, growing on sand dunes, old walls, rooftops, and thin soil over rock. The upright shoots reach 1-5 cm (0.4-2 in) tall and pack together into loose green to yellow-brown mats or cushions. Each leaf is tongue-shaped with a strongly recurved margin and ends in a long, toothed, colourless hair-point that gives dry cushions a hoary, greyish cast. When dry the leaves twist and curl tightly against the stem; within seconds of wetting they spread and arch back in a star-like rosette, the habit behind the common name star moss. Reddish spore stalks 1-2.5 cm (0.4-1 in) tall carry narrow, erect capsules with a spirally twisted lid. It withstands long droughts and full exposure but thins where surfaces stay shaded and wet for long periods.
Native Range
Syntrichia ruralis is nearly cosmopolitan, found across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres on dry, base-rich substrates. It grows on dunes, calcareous grassland, walls, roof tiles, and soil crusts from coasts to mountains and into semi-arid regions.Suggested Uses
Used on green roofs, in dry moss gardens, gravel and rock features, and troughs in open, sunny positions. It clothes thin, dry, alkaline surfaces where most plants cannot root. Its need for sharp drainage and sun rules it out of damp, shaded plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Colors
Foliage Colors
Bloom Information
Mosses do not flower. Syntrichia ruralis reproduces by spores from cylindrical capsules that ripen mainly in spring (March to May), with capsules produced irregularly between sites and seasons. It also spreads as shoot fragments take root in fresh ground.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
green to yellow-brown, grey when dryGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 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
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Syntrichia ruralis grows in full sun to light shade on sharply drained, lime-rich surfaces such as sand, gravel, mortar, and roof tiles. It has no true roots, taking water and nutrients over its whole surface, so it depends on rain and dew rather than soil moisture. It tolerates a neutral to alkaline pH, roughly 6.5 to 8.0, and accepts very poor, dry substrates. Established cushions endure drought by drying to a grey rest state and reviving when rewetted. No feeding or watering is needed once established. It is propagated by pressing fragments onto bare, gritty ground.Pruning
No pruning is needed. Cushions can be lifted and pressed onto new gritty surfaces to spread them. Accumulated litter and competing weeds are removed to keep the mats open and sunlit.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons