The magic of moss

Moss is taking over, but after many years of being bemoaned for its invasive

Invasive plants are those that grow vigorously, spread rapidly and can out-compete other plants. Native, non-native and cultivated plants can all be invasive.

spread through our lawns, it’s time to celebrate this underrated plant. Not only does it make a natural, green softener for hard landscaping edges, but it can also be used as a top dressing for planters and is perfect for using in terrariums. Better still, you can grow and collect it in your own garden.

You should never collect moss from the wild as all wild plants are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). Mosses play a valuable role in the biodiversity

The variety of living organisms (plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms) in a particular environment. Boosting the biodiversity of your garden has many benefits, including supporting wildlife, improving soil health and reducing the likelihood of pest and disease problems.

of our landscape and should only be bought from sustainably farmed sources.

Ancient plants

The official term for the plant group including mosses, liverworts and hornworts is bryophyte and there are said to be around 1100 species of bryophyte in Britain and Ireland. They are believed to have evolved from ancestral green algae and are thought to include the earliest lineages of plants.

There are more than 20,000 species of moss worldwide, ranging in size from microscopic to over a metre. Their beauty lies in their colouring and their intricate detail, which begs to be admired up close. Some seem to glow with a mystical luminescence, while others resemble underwater seaweed or miniature forests.

Old stone walls covered in moss in the Woodland at RHS Garden Bridgewater

RHS Chief Horticulturist Guy Barter says, “Moss has no roots and cannot compete with plants, and in fact is a useful groundcover, preventing weed seed germination

Germination is the process by which a seed develops into a new plant. It starts with the seed coat absorbing water, expanding and splitting, which allows oxygen and water into the seed so its food reserves can be broken down and used by the embryo for growth. The first root (called the radicle) pushes into the soil to anchor the new plant in place and start absorbing water and nutrients. The first shoot (called the plumule) then grows upwards, out of the soil, towards the light.

, as well as boosting biodiversity. Moss is also fine to add to your home composting.”

Moss takeover

Moss displayed in glass bottles, by Moss Clerks at RHS Urban Show 2024

At the RHS Urban Show in 2024, Moss Clerks caused a stir with their magical, moss-filled installation, which highlighted carbon processing, the cycle of life, and the important role played by moss. All the mosses they sell are either grown by them, or collected from certified timber areas.

Moss and the life cycle, by Marcia Ruta and Claire Page of Moss Clerks

Take five

Moss Clerks give us their top five mosses to grow:

1. Carpet moss

Because of its versatility, carpet moss (Hypnum cupressiforme) can grow on a north-facing or a south-facing wall, on rooftops, in woodland, in between paving stones, and as a lawn.

2. Glittering wood moss

The colour of glittering wood moss (Hylocomium spendens) goes from dark green with red stems to a flame orange with yellow tinges and red stems. It can grow in the shade and in the sun.

3. Haircap moss

Haircap mosses (Polytrichum strictum) have the most developed rhizoid system, a primitive root system through which they take up to 70% of their nutrients, unlike other mosses which take them from the surrounding environment. Haircaps can withstand full sun if their rhizoids are deep in moist, clay soil.

4. Broom fork moss or woodland cushion moss

This lovely woodland cushion moss (Dicranum scoparium) makes you happy just looking at it. It’s great for moss lawns alongside carpet mosses and adds a lovely contrast with its bright green colour.

5. Woolly fringe moss

Woolly fringe (Racomitrium lanuginosum) is a moss often seen growing in Iceland, where it can remain dormant for around 17 years. When dry, it looks white, like Santa’s beard, as it grows in massive tufts.

Moss Magic at RHS Hampton Court

As a love of moss swept across the RHS Shows, it also featured at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival in 2024, where the Moss Magic Garden, designed by Bea Tann, brought the charm of a fairy woodland to a small urban space.

Moss Magic Garden design for RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2024

Moss Magic Garden

Top of the moss at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

There was also plenty of moss on show at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2024, with forest floors, woodland glades and shady courtyards all making the most of the green attributes of these fascinating plants.

In the The National Autistic Society Garden, designed by Sophie Parmenter and Dido Milne, a shady dell at the rear of the garden was home to a range of mosses, clinging to stones, filling crevices and smoothing over sharp edges like a soft blanket. The smell was intense, drawing you in with that sumptuous earthy scent. It felt old, and that’s a good trick to use at home, giving new surfaces an aged patina by creating the right conditions for plants such as moss to grow – which generally means moist but well-drained, and they do love a slope.

Moss smoothes out the hard edges and creates a green blanket in The National Autistic Society Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Using moss in landscaping

Moss can be very useful to create that instant lived-in look. Nothing says ancient like a sprinkling of soft green moss, which can be tucked into crevices, spread onto dampened boulders, or used to blend edges.

Craft projects

If you don’t like the moss in your lawn you could collect it yourself and use in craft projects. As well as being the perfect topping for planters and terrariums, moss is often used as a filler for wreaths, as it can hold moisture. You could even try creating a little bit of fairy-magic in your garden, like with this pretty birdcage, filled with moss from around the garden.

Still not convinced?

If you really don’t want moss growing in your lawn, the best advice is to scarify, to remove the moss, and then reseed bare patches with grass seed, but consider ways to reuse the moss you collect.

Moss in lawns