The magic of moss
Learn to love this ancient plant, which has survived climate change throughout the ages, and dares to thrive where other plants die. Expert growers Moss Clerks share their top five mosses to love
Moss is taking over, but after many years of being bemoaned for its invasive spread through our lawns, it’s time to celebrate this underrated plant. Not only does it make a natural, green softener for hard landscaping edges, but it can also be used as a top dressing for planters and is perfect for using in terrariums. Better still, you can grow and collect it in your own garden.
You should never collect moss from the wild as all wild plants are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). Mosses play a valuable role in the biodiversity of our landscape and should only be bought from sustainably farmed sources.
The official term for the plant group including mosses, liverworts and hornworts is bryophyte and there are said to be around 1100 species of bryophyte in Britain and Ireland. They are believed to have evolved from ancestral green algae and are thought to include the earliest lineages of plants.
Moss clinging to ancient boulders and trees
The intricate detail of moss begs admiration
Old stone walls covered in moss in the Woodland at RHS Garden Bridgewater
RHS Chief Horticulturist Guy Barter says, “Moss has no roots and cannot compete with plants, and in fact is a useful groundcover, preventing weed seed germination, as well as boosting biodiversity. Moss is also fine to add to your home composting.”
Moss takeover
Moss displayed in glass bottles, by Moss Clerks at RHS Urban Show 2024
Moss and the life cycle, by Marcia Ruta and Claire Page of Moss Clerks
Take five
Moss Clerks give us their top five mosses to grow:
1. Carpet moss (Hypnum cupressiforme)
Because of its versatility, carpet moss can grow on a north facing or a south facing wall, on rooftops, in woodland, in between paving stones, and as a lawn.
2. Glittering wood moss (Hylocomium spendens)
The colour of glittering wood moss goes from dark green with red stems, to a flame orange with yellow tinges and red stem. It can grow in the shade and in the sun.
Haircap moss
3. Haircap moss (Polytrichum strictum)
Haircap mosses have the most developed rhizoid system, a primitive root system through which they take up to 70 per cent of their nutrients, unlike other mosses which take them from the surrounding environment. Haircaps can withstand full sun if their rhizoids are deep in moist, clay soil.
4. Broom fork moss or woodland cushion moss (Dicranum scoparium)
This lovely, woodland cushion moss makes you happy just looking at it. It’s great for moss lawns alongside carpet mosses, and adds a lovely contrast, with its bright green colour.
5. Woolly fringe moss (Racomitrium lanuginosum)
Woolly fringe is a moss often seen growing in Iceland, where it can remain dormant for around 17 years. When dry, it looks white, like Santa’s beard, as it grows in massive tufts.
Moss Magic at RHS Hampton Court
Moss Magic Garden design for RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2024
Top of the moss at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
There was also plenty of moss on show at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2024, with forest floors, woodland glades and shady courtyards all making the most of the green attributes of these fascinating plants.
Moss was used to soften the hard surfaces of The Ecotherapy Garden, designed by Tom Bannister
Nobody does moss like Kazuyuki Ishihara, seen here in a tucked away alley behind the garden
Moss smoothes out the hard edges and creates a green blanket in The National Autistic Society Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Using moss in landscaping
Moss can be very useful to create that instant lived-in look. Nothing says ancient like a sprinkling of soft green moss, which can be tucked into crevices, spread onto dampened boulders, or used to blend edges.
The trick is make it look natural, such as on this moss-covered saddle quern at Attadale Gardens, Wester Ross
Moss squeezed into the gaps in paving give it an instant lived-in look
Craft projects
If you don’t like the moss in your lawn you could collect it yourself and use in craft projects. As well as being the perfect topping for planters and terrariums, moss is often used as a filler for wreaths, as it can hold moisture. You could even try creating a little bit of fairy-magic in your garden, like with this pretty birdcage, filled with moss from around the garden.
