Spanish moss
Tillandsia usneoides, (til-LAND-see-uh us-nee-OY-deez) also known commonly as: Spanish moss, Graybeard, Long moss, and Old Man's Beard.
Taxonomy
- Spanish moss is an epiphyte within the Bromeliaceae family.
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus | Species | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classification | Plantae | Embryophyta | Liliopsida | Poales | Bromeliaceae | Tillandsia | T. usneoides |
Conservation Status
Spanish moss is listed as Least Concern. [1] [4]
Description
Tillandsia usneoides and Epiphyte[3] that typically grows on woody branches. It is within the Bromeliad [2], meaning that it is not actually a moss, but a flowering plant. [6] Spanish moss is an evergreen herbaceous perennial. [3]
Identification
Spanish moss is found in dense clumps. In color it appears gray when dry and green when wet and looks like a lichen. It is rootless and its leaves are tubular and gray. to the touch it feels rough and bendable.[3][4][6]
Habitat and Distribution
Spanish moss can be found in the southern United States, Central America, and most of northern South America.[3] It has also been brought to Australia and become common there. Spanish moss is native to tropical areas with a high relative humidity. It typically thrives on live woody plants like oak and pine trees in wet ecosystems like estuaries, rivers, swamps, and other coastal regions[7]
Human Uses
Spanish moss has many ethnobotanical uses. It has been used over the course of thousands of years as bedding, mulch, building material, and as a plant medicine in different cultures. Now it's used for aesthetics including in floral arrangements like terrariums, wreaths and crafts. People also cultivate it in their gardens. As a plant medicine it is thought to help treat arthritis, diabetes, common colds, and hemorrhoids. [2] Most commonly, it is used for gardening. Along with aesthetic appeal, Spanish moss is good for many reasons that have kept Spanish moss as a top choice for gardeners for thousands of years. This plant helps trap moisture from evaporating from soils, keeping them wet and saturated for longer. It also can protect soils from erosion, fungal diseases. It also regulates temperature keeping soil a more stable temperature all year. It can also work as pest control, since it is dense, it can act as a protective layer against pests.[8]
Sources
[1] Treviño Zevallos, I. 2019. Tillandsia usneoides. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T131368905A131369229. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T131368905A131369229.en. Accessed on 29 April 2025.
[2] Hand, Jr., Duke, E. R., & Florida A&M University Cooperative Extension Program. (n.d.). Spanish moss. https://cafs.famu.edu/cooperative-extension/pdf/Spanish%20Moss%20extension%20brochure.pdf
[3] Tillandsia usneoides (Graybeard, Long Moss, Old Man’s Beard, Spanish Moss) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. (n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2025, from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/tillandsia-usneoides/#:~:text=Tillandsia%20usneoides%20(Graybeard%2C%20Long%20Moss,Carolina%20Extension%20Gardener%20Plant%20Toolbox
[4]Vascular plants of North Carolina. (n.d.). https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/plant_list.php?name_sn=Tillandsia%20usneoides
[5] Spanish moss - Tillandsia usneoides. (n.d.). Ukhouseplants. https://www.ukhouseplants.com/plants/spanish-moss-tillandsia-usneoides-1
[6] Leotis, A. (2022, January 5). Spanish Moss • Jekyll Island, Georgia • Vacation, Conservation, and Education Destination. Jekyll Island, Georgia • Vacation, Conservation, and Education Destination. https://www.jekyllisland.com/magazine/spanish-moss/
[7] Plant Fact Sheet/Guide Coordination Page, National Plant Data Center, Manhart, J. R., & USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center. (n.d.). Plant Guide. In Plant Materials. https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/cs_tius.pdf
[8] Quality Growers Floral Company. (2025, April 20). The timeless charm of preserved Spanish moss as a plant topper. Quality Growers Floral Company. https://qualitygrowers.com/a/blog/the-timeless-charm-of-preserved-spanish-moss-as-a-plant-topper#:~:text=Soil%20Protection%3A%20Spanish%20moss%20acts,caused%20by%20soil%2Dborne%20pathogens.