Fontinalis antipyretica

RHS Plant Profile
water moss

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Other common names

willow moss

Aquatic
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A submerged, epiphytic, evergreen aquatic moss, with slender stems bearing linear dark green leaves. It is a relatively slow-growing, perennial, native to the British Isles and is a useful as an oxygenating plant for ponds and aquaria

Position

Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Moisture
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full shade Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Fontinalaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Submerged, Spreading branched, Clump forming, Matforming
Genus
Fontinalis are submerged aquatic mosses with slender stems bearing 3-ranked, dark olive-green leaves
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows best in clear, clean, cold, water, in sun or shade. You can buy weighted bunches and tie them to a brick or stone; they will attach to the surface of rocks. Thrives in depths from 10cm to 90cm. Best grown in water with a neutral to acidic pH

Propagation

Propagate by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free