Taxonomy

Division:

Bryophyta | - Mosses

Family:

Sphagnaceae

Genus:

Sphagnum

Species:

Sphagnum magellanicum

USDA Symbol:

SPMA70

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:

Nonvascular

Height:

30 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Ground Cover:

Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

amphibians, invertebrates

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fall Color:

red, burgundy

Fire Notes:

Saturated conditions typically prevent fire; dried peat bogs can burn catastrophically but moss does not benefit from fire.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

acidic, nutrient-poor, peat-rich soil

pH:

3.5 - 5.5 (strongly acidic)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist to waterlogged

Notes:

commonly found in bogs and wetlands

Propagation & Germination

Notes:

Sphagnum reproduces primarily via spores and vegetative fragmentation; spore germination is complex and rarely attempted in cultivation.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI