(Sagina subulata 'Irish Moss')
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Irish Moss is a hardy, low-growing, evergreen, perennial groundcover that is native to the northern Mediterranean region and Southern Europe, but can be found growing in gardens and lawns throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-2” and features deep green moss-like leaves and tiny white daisy-like flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates frost, and attracts bees.
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Sagina
Species: subulata
Variety: Irish Moss
Also Known As: Pearlwort
Native to: Albania, Austria, Corse, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Føroyar, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Yugoslavia
Introduced to: California, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Mexico Northwest, Oregon, Virginia
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): Spring and summer
Hardiness: Hardy. Iris Moss can withstand temperatures as low as -30 °F.
Light: In colder areas, Irish Moss appreciate full sunshine. In hotter climates, it will do best with afternoon shade to provide shelter from the intense heat.
Water: Medium to Low.
Soil Moisture: Medium to low moisture.
Suitability: Makes a good small scale groundcover. Perfectly sized for rock gardens and border fronts. Perfect selection for filling in between paving stones.
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Bees.
Containers?: Yes. Irish moss is also suitable for container growing. Select a pot, preferably terra cotta, that is wide and shallow.
Maintenance: Low
Height: 1-2”
Width: 1'
Spacing: 6-9”
Sow Depth: On soil surface
USDA Zone: 4-10
Produces: Deep green moss-like leaves and tiny white daisy-like flowers.
Garden Uses: Asian Gardens, Cottage Garden, and Rock Garden.
Genus: Sagina
Species: subulata
Variety: Irish Moss
Also Known As: Pearlwort
Native to: Albania, Austria, Corse, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Føroyar, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Yugoslavia
Introduced to: California, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Mexico Northwest, Oregon, Virginia
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Blooms): Spring and summer
Hardiness: Hardy. Iris Moss can withstand temperatures as low as -30 °F.
Light: In colder areas, Irish Moss appreciate full sunshine. In hotter climates, it will do best with afternoon shade to provide shelter from the intense heat.
Water: Medium to Low.
Soil Moisture: Medium to low moisture.
Suitability: Makes a good small scale groundcover. Perfectly sized for rock gardens and border fronts. Perfect selection for filling in between paving stones.
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Bees.
Containers?: Yes. Irish moss is also suitable for container growing. Select a pot, preferably terra cotta, that is wide and shallow.
Maintenance: Low
Height: 1-2”
Width: 1'
Spacing: 6-9”
Sow Depth: On soil surface
USDA Zone: 4-10
Produces: Deep green moss-like leaves and tiny white daisy-like flowers.
Garden Uses: Asian Gardens, Cottage Garden, and Rock Garden.
Irish Moss seeds are very tiny which makes sowing a certain amount of them per planting hole outdoors a tough task. Making the task even more difficult, these seeds are loved by birds which will eat your seeds and whatever seed that remain will be blown away by the wind! For these reasons, it is best to start your Irish Moss seeds indoors.
Germinating Irish Moss Seeds:
1) Fill seed starting trays to within 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the rim with moist soil mix.
2) Firm the surface with the back of your fingers, then scatter 3-5 seeds evenly over the medium.
3) Add a label with the plant name and date.
4) Cover the finished pots with plastic and set them in a warm bright place or under lights at a room temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit .
5) Keep the soil moist as the seedlings sprout and develop. Move the pots into direct sunlight to continue growing.
Temperature: 64 - 72°F.
Average Germ Time: 14-21 days
Light Required: Yes
Depth: On soil surface. Do not cover the seed.
Moisture: Keep soil slightly moist, but not wet until germination
Transplanting Seedlings into Larger Pots:
1) When your seedlings have filled your seed starting tray pot, pot them up into a larger container that are shallow and up to 1' wide and fill with a soil mix.
2) After the last threat of frost, harden off the seedlings in the garden for about 10 days.
3) Once the seedlings have been hardened off, you can plant them in the garden.
Germinating Irish Moss Seeds:
1) Fill seed starting trays to within 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the rim with moist soil mix.
2) Firm the surface with the back of your fingers, then scatter 3-5 seeds evenly over the medium.
3) Add a label with the plant name and date.
4) Cover the finished pots with plastic and set them in a warm bright place or under lights at a room temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit .
5) Keep the soil moist as the seedlings sprout and develop. Move the pots into direct sunlight to continue growing.
Temperature: 64 - 72°F.
Average Germ Time: 14-21 days
Light Required: Yes
Depth: On soil surface. Do not cover the seed.
Moisture: Keep soil slightly moist, but not wet until germination
Transplanting Seedlings into Larger Pots:
1) When your seedlings have filled your seed starting tray pot, pot them up into a larger container that are shallow and up to 1' wide and fill with a soil mix.
2) After the last threat of frost, harden off the seedlings in the garden for about 10 days.
3) Once the seedlings have been hardened off, you can plant them in the garden.
How:
Transplant your seedlings into the garden once the soil has warmed after all dangers of frost. Irish Moss prefers a moist humus rich soil that has a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. In colder areas, Irish Moss appreciate full sunshine. In hotter climates, it will do best with afternoon shade to provide shelter from the intense heat. Dig your holes as deep as the pots you are transplanting from and keep a spacing of 1 foot between seedlings. Your soil will need to maintain a medium moisture.
When outdoor temp: 55˚F to 60˚F.
Spacing: 6-9"
Support: No
Transplant your seedlings into the garden once the soil has warmed after all dangers of frost. Irish Moss prefers a moist humus rich soil that has a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. In colder areas, Irish Moss appreciate full sunshine. In hotter climates, it will do best with afternoon shade to provide shelter from the intense heat. Dig your holes as deep as the pots you are transplanting from and keep a spacing of 1 foot between seedlings. Your soil will need to maintain a medium moisture.
When outdoor temp: 55˚F to 60˚F.
Spacing: 6-9"
Support: No
Sun and Temperature:
Irish moss prefers full sun to partial shade and a temperature around 60 degrees. It gets fussy around 80 degrees so if you live in an area with warm summers, your Iris Moss will need some afternoon shade. If you live in zones 4-8, your Irish Moss will do fine outdoors in the ground. If you live in a grow zones above 8, you should grow Irish Moss in a container and bring it indoors when the sunlight or heat is too intense. If you live in a grow zone lower than 4, you should also grow your Irish Moss in a container and bring your containers indoors when the temperature is 30 degrees.
Water and Humidity:
Always water your Irish moss in the morning, before the sun has warmed the ground. Keep the ground around your plant sufficiently moist, but not waterlogged. Especially when it has just been transplanted, it will need a consistent amount of water to root effectively. But light watering with a soaker hose is best for this sensitive ground cover. Insufficient or excessive water causes brown patches.
Fertilizing:
Irish moss likes a full-spectrum fertilizer with a 5-5-5 NPK applied to the ground cover once in the spring, annually. High nitrogen levels can lead to your compact, low-lying groundcover to form a mound.
Pruning:
If there are yellowing or brown leaves, remove them as needed.
Irish moss prefers full sun to partial shade and a temperature around 60 degrees. It gets fussy around 80 degrees so if you live in an area with warm summers, your Iris Moss will need some afternoon shade. If you live in zones 4-8, your Irish Moss will do fine outdoors in the ground. If you live in a grow zones above 8, you should grow Irish Moss in a container and bring it indoors when the sunlight or heat is too intense. If you live in a grow zone lower than 4, you should also grow your Irish Moss in a container and bring your containers indoors when the temperature is 30 degrees.
Water and Humidity:
Always water your Irish moss in the morning, before the sun has warmed the ground. Keep the ground around your plant sufficiently moist, but not waterlogged. Especially when it has just been transplanted, it will need a consistent amount of water to root effectively. But light watering with a soaker hose is best for this sensitive ground cover. Insufficient or excessive water causes brown patches.
Fertilizing:
Irish moss likes a full-spectrum fertilizer with a 5-5-5 NPK applied to the ground cover once in the spring, annually. High nitrogen levels can lead to your compact, low-lying groundcover to form a mound.
Pruning:
If there are yellowing or brown leaves, remove them as needed.
Try pairing Irish Moss with Mazus, Scottish Moss, and Creeping Thyme.
Suggested Varieties
(Thymus serpyllum 'Creeping')
Creeping Thyme is a woody-based, creeping perennial herb that is native to Europe but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 3-6” and features a 12-18” wide foliage mat of rooting stems, 1/4” oval-shaped, blueish-green leaves, and small, tubular, two-lipped, bell-shaped dark pink/purple flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, repels moths, tolerates deer, drought, and light frost, flavors perfumes and soaps, makes essential oils and fungicide, and is both edible and medicinal!