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Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish moss)

Other names: Old man's beard, Black moss, Florida moss, Hanging moss, Long beard, Long moss, New Orleans moss, Southern moss, Tree beard, Vegetable hair, Grey moss, Gray moss

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Species
T. usneoides is a tender, pendent, epiphytic perennial with rootless, branching, wiry stems bearing cylindrical, grey-green leaves and, in late spring or autumn, tubular, yellow-green or pale blue flowers with silvery-grey bracts.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
8 m 0.3 m 5-10 years
26 ft 0 ft 5-10 years

Where to grow

Soil type
    Soil drainage
      Soil pH
        Sunlight
        • Partial Shade
        Aspect
        • East
        • West
        Exposure
        • Sheltered

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        Additional plant details

        Cultivation

        Under glass, grow epiphyticallly in bright, indirect light with moderate to high humidity. Mist daily with rainwater & apply a 1/4-strength, low-nitrogen liquid fertiliser monthly. Outdoors in frost-free areas, grow in a tree in moist, partial shade.

        Suggested uses

        Containers/Patio, Sub-Tropical, Low Maintenance, Conservatory

        UK hardiness

        H1c

        USDA zones

        Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10, Zone 11

        Sunset zone

        22, 23, 24

        WUCOLS

        North-Central Coastal = Unknown
        Central Valley = Unknown
        South Coastal = Unknown
        South Inland = Unknown
        High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
        Low Desert = Unknown

        Foliage

        Evergreen

        Habit

        Pendulous

        Native to

        Southern United States, Mexico, Central America, South America

        Drought tolerant

        No

        Flood tolerant

        No

        Toxicity

        Not toxic

        Plant care

        Pruning

        No pruning required.

        Propagation methods

        Seed, Offsets

        Propagation

        Detach offsets in spring and attach to bark slabs. Sow seed at 27C in spring on to bundles of conifer twigs or sphagnum moss. Mist seeds and offsets daily.

        Pests

        Glasshouse red spider mite

        Aphids

        Red spider mite (box and other)

        Diseases

        Generally disease free.

        Apply a fertiliser container grown plants regularly

        Mist plants to create a humid atmosphere

        Requires little or no pruning (winter)

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        Plants in this Genus (6)

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        Tillandsia usneoides
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        Tillandsia ionantha 'Rubra' Sky plant 'Rubra'
        Tillandsia abdita
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        Tillandsia abdita Air plant
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        Companion plants (0)

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