Tillandsia Bromeliad Species, Air Plant, Spanish Moss

On Mar 3, 2021, bradwalters from Jacksonville, FL wrote:

Hi,

I have been around and around looking for a way to remove this moss from my live oaks with no practical solution found. Is there a practical way to remove the moss that you know of?

Thanks,

BW

On May 17, 2017, Rhetenor from Garner, NC wrote:

As many have stated, this plant does not kill trees. Unfortunately, when trees across the southeast die, spanish moss is often more noticeable and certainly benefits for a short while from more sun and nutrient runoff. Its abundance contributes to the notion that it is a cause....but NOT SO.

If you are in Zones 8a-7a, and want to grow this plant, you will need to obtain stocks from the northern most and/or cooler parts of its natural range. I am originally from Ocala, FL but now live in Zone 8a/7b NC. Stocks from central FL do not acclimate here. Although this plant is common just to the East (Atlalantic coastal plain of NC), it potentially does quite well in the lower Piedmont (Raleigh area) as long as it gets good sun and is placed in suitable shrubs or trees (oaks, l... read moreongleaf pines, large azaleas and crape myrtles are best). I have quit a bit that has survived temps below 0 degrees F for a short while, sleet, snow and hurricanes. Over the years, it has grown & even produced plantlets from seed outside on several trees including pine. BIRDS AND SQUIRRELS WILL ABSOLUTELY STEAL IT, SO YOU NEED TO START WITH A GOOD BIT FOR IT TO REALLY ESTABLISH.

On Feb 28, 2015, Samuel_J from Savannah, GA wrote:

Hello; I live in Savannah, Ga, which is notorious for it's moss. I have an acre on the marsh, with 6, 200+ year old
oak trees. The moss hangs as low as 10-15 feet in a single clump. I also have pines and magnolias, which do not support the moss. It will get in the trees from a gust of wind, but does not grow. The moss does love my camellia's, and has a tendency to choke it, reducing the flowering quantity, so I keep them cleaned fairly close, with just enough left in for looks. It seems to have no negative effect on the oaks, other than trapping in moisture, which can slowly rot a branch, then making it a breeding ground for damaging insects. I have no problem with mites (chiggers) in my moss here on the marsh, but what I have deduced is that I also have no pigeons; only song birds.... read more When I lived downtown, the moss was full of mites, and there was an overabundance of pigeons. I do not recommend using for mulch. It compacts down very quickly to become a solid mass. I use it to fill the hole in my gravel drive when the rain makes wash-outs, and it stays put and holds the dirt, while the gravel gets washed away. With all the breeze off the marsh, and the sudden thunderstorms here, I pick up an average of a large 50 gallon trash bag full once a week. It must be kept off of roofs, and anywhere trapped moisture creates a problem. But it is so pretty to look at, blowing in the breeze, especially with the sunset behind it.

On Aug 15, 2006, BayAreaTropics from Hayward, CA wrote:

Here in California, the difficulty is trying to grow it fast enough to keep up with birds who steal it to make nests out of it.

On Dec 4, 2005, SudieGoodman from Broaddus, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

Zone 8b, shore of Lake Sam Rayburn, southeast, TX
Henry, wind blows my moss from tree before it starts spreading. You gave me an idea to hang it over fish tanks where the wind is not blowing so strongly.
I will use it in my pot plants, as mulch under azalea shrubs, etc.
We have a lot of Spanish Moss in our area.
Read how the name "Spanish Moss" derived. Very interesting. (It did not come from Spain) Go to Google for an interesting story on how it got it's name.

Best regards and happy mossing

On May 9, 2005, JaxFlaGardener from Jacksonville, FL (Zone 8b) wrote:

I grew up in NE Florida where the Spanish Moss hangs in great flowing "beards" from nearly every hardwood tree and I consider myself fairly observant of details. However, I had never noticed flowers on T. usneoides until yesterday when using Spanish Moss to stuff a new wire basket planter for my Staghorn Fern (Platycerium bifurcatum). I've uploaded some photos of the two small (approx. 1/4 inch), chartreuse green, waxy, tube-shaped flowers that I found on one sprig of the Spanish Moss that I was using to stuff the wire basket.

On Mar 30, 2005, jasonc from Parrish, FL (Zone 9a) wrote:

I agree with Obi_wan for the most part. I've been told before if you leave it on the trees sooner or later it will take over and kill the tree. Now that doesn't mean it will literally kill the tree but it does get to the point where it is EVERYWHERE on the tree. I've seen alot of perfectly fine trees get it and become really dead looking from the lack of light....

On Nov 9, 2004, TREEHUGR from Now in Orlando, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:

There are several posts here that apparently aren't sure if Spanish moss can kill a tree or not. The fact is, Spanish moss is an epiphyte. It does not feed off the tree like a parasite or pest; it feeds from nutrients in the air. It likes to call trees home because they provide a shady spot where they won't dry out and will catch a lot of delicious nutrients, but it does not harm the tree one bit. It just so happens, you can find Spanish moss easily in Florida on older or mature trees. Kind of makes the tree look like it's got hairy armpits :) Spanish moss is useful for making beautiful wigs and toupees.

On Jul 14, 2004, aviator8188 from Murphysboro, IL (Zone 7a) wrote:

I live in zone 7a extreme southern Illinois and I have always been fascinated by the specimen during my trips through the south...I just wonder if it would grow here? Does anyone know where I could purchase some seed?

**Update** (Revised June 10, 2005):

I recently received some Tillandsia usneoides courtesy of a gentleman from southern Georgia. I have it growing in my Nandina domestica (since T. usneoides prefers to grow on evergreens). I'm going to see if it will grow in my zone 7a climate, that occasionaly experiences zone 6b winters. I will have reports in the spring of 2006.

Spanish Moss is an epiphyte, thus it doesn't feed of it's host plant (e.g. Quercus virginia, Pinus, Nandina, Lagerstroemia, Magnolia, etc.). Those Genuses are the most ... read morecommon plants that one will find T. usneoides particularly fond of growing on. It's not from Spain, nor is it a moss. It's a bromeliad! There is a plethra of species belonging to bromeliads--Spanish Moss just happens to be one of them. However, some species of Tillandsia are considered a parasite. Ball Moss is a good example of a parasitic plant. Ball Moss is more common in drier area's of the South, native to Texas, particularly the San Antonio area.

On May 11, 2004, Monocromatico from Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil (Zone 11) wrote:

I see that people associate the death of trees with the bromeliad. Well, there's no relation between the presence of Spanish Moss and dead trees. It just happens that the tree dies, but the moss just stays there as long as it can.

The Spanish Moss can indeed form a heavy cover on the tree branches, but it usually doesn't cover the leaves and leaf buds, so there's little competition between the epiphyte and the hoster. If a tree dies covered with Spanish Moss it's most likely because of some disease than the influence of the epiphyte.

The only bad thing this plant can cause is making the trees look ugly or sad, which is a matter of opinion. I recommend keeping this plant whenever you can. As said before, lots of birds use it to build their nests, not to mention... read more that it can be used to cover the medium of orchid pots, stuff things, and as medicinal. It is said to be great against skin diseases.

On Aug 11, 2003, Kelli from L.A. (Canoga Park), CA (Zone 10a) wrote:

I am rather surprised that I am able to grow this plant outside in California. It hangs in a tree, which is a relatively humid location, and I soak it in water several times a week during hot and dry weather. The original clump had got big enough that I could divide it, so it is growing. It blooms, too.

On Aug 10, 2002, PippiPat wrote:

Spainish moss is beneficial for many reasons. There are little Warblers, Northern Parula, a delighful little bird, that nests in the Spainiah moss. Here in Texas I have seen other very small birds nestle into the moss for protection from rainy nights. When lived in Va. we would mulch potted plants with the moss. It only grows in swampy damp areas and is really abundant in La. It will not grow in full afternoon sun, prefers morning sun and some partical shade, but creeks, swamps, party shady rivers is where it will be found. It also prefers oak trees, but if a healthy growth, beginning with an oak, may spread to underbrush etc.