Taxonomy

Division:

Bryophyta | - Mosses

Family:

Polytrichaceae

Genus:

Polytrichum

Species:

Polytrichum formosum

USDA Symbol:

POFO6

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:

Nonvascular

Height:

15 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Ground Cover:

Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

acidic, nutrient-poor, well-drained soil

pH:

4.0 - 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

commonly found in forest floors and heathlands

Propagation & Germination

Notes:

Reproduces via spores; requires moist, shaded conditions and bare mineral or organic substrate for spore establishment.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI