Taxonomy

Division:

Bryophyta | - Mosses

Family:

Sphagnaceae

Genus:

Sphagnum

Species:

Sphagnum palustre

USDA Symbol:

SPPA70

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:

Nonvascular

Height:

20 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Ground Cover:

Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

amphibians, invertebrates

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Notes:

Saturated peat bogs where Sphagnum grows typically resist fire; however, dried-out peat can burn catastrophically.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

acidic, nutrient-poor, peat soil

pH:

3.5 - 5.5 (acidic)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

commonly found in bogs and wetlands

Propagation & Germination

Notes:

Sphagnum mosses reproduce primarily via spores; spore germination requires consistently wet, acidic conditions and is rarely attempted in cultivation.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI