Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Mountain Moss, Tree Moss

Description:

This rich moss forms a mat of green foliage, creating a great groundcover for shady damp areas; sometimes called tree moss because it looks like tiny trees; bright green spring color matures to greenish yellow in late summer

Ornamental Features

American Climacium Moss' attractive tiny needle-like leaves emerge light green in spring, turning green in colour on a plant with a spreading habit of growth. The foliage often turns chartreuse in fall.

Landscape Attributes

American Climacium Moss is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It has no significant negative characteristics.

American Climacium Moss is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

American Climacium Moss will grow to be only 2 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by division.

American Climacium Moss is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.