Pottiaceae
Syntrichia ruralis
Syntrichia ruralis
Native Plants · Moss · Star Moss · Desiccation Tolerant · Terrarium · Rock Garden · Bryophyte · Low Maintenance · Drought Revival · Ground Cover · Pottiaceae
Syntrichia ruralis, commonly known as star moss or great hairy screw-moss, is a remarkably resilient moss capable of surviving extreme desiccation and reviving fully upon rehydration. It grows well on rocks, walls, dry grasslands, and sandy soils in cool, partially shaded to open environments with minimal inputs. This moss is best used in terrariums, rock gardens, or naturalistic plantings where it forms attractive low mats requiring almost no maintenance.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 3 hours
- Watering
- Mist surface lightly; this moss can rehydrate from near-complete desiccation with any rainfall or misting · Mist lightly every 7-14 days when active; minimal water when dormant
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6–7
- Temperature
- -20°F to 85°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Cutting
Hardiness
USDA 5a-10b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 2 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
Sources: trefle
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