Florida Trees With Spanish Moss

This can be hard in florida since the climate is sub tropical.

Florida trees with spanish moss. It s actually an epiphyte meaning it gets all of its nutrients from the air and rainwater. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11 wrapping around its hosts without rooting. A romantic symbol of the south it is greenish silver after a rain and grayish silver at other times. Spanish moss ball moss lichens and other epiphytes growing on living and dead trees are part of the image of the florida landscape.

Spanish moss can grow strands up to 20 feet long especially on live oak and cypress tree branches. Given the roles these plants play in the natural environment and the native beauty they impart the best strategy is to leave these unique and harmless plants unmolested. Most bromeliads including spanish moss are epiphytes. Some birds use the plant in the making of.

Today the plant is collected for use in arts and crafts and flower arrangements. Spanish moss can grow on just about any tree in florida but seems to prefer oak and cypress trees. This means that moss can grow and grow fast. What are the best trees to plant in florida.

In days gone by spanish moss was collected to stuff mattresses car seats and furniture. Spanish moss is not from spain. The best tree for you is one that is going to fit into the space you have and will enjoy your local climate. Many animals use spanish moss for protection taking cover in the thick masses.

It actually has an important role in florida s ecology. Spanish moss inhabits a number of tree species from florida to texas and thrives in u s. Most often you ll find spanish moss on cypress and oak species such as the southern live oak quercus virginiana and the italian cypress cupressus. Epiphytes grow on other plants but do not rely on them for nutrients.

Spanish moss does not need to be removed from your trees. Spanish moss tillandsia usneoides is an epiphytic flowering plant that often grows upon larger trees in tropical and subtropical climates native to much of mexico bermuda the bahamas central america south america the southern united states west indies and is also naturalized in queensland it is known as grandpas beard in french polynesia. In our area it loves pine trees. Spanish moss is not a moss.

Spanish moss sometimes called grandfather s graybeard or florida moss is soft graceful eerie and beautiful all at the same time. If you are considering removing moss from your trees in this blog we will discuss how to remove spanish moss from trees easily. Contrary to popular belief spanish moss is not a parasite.