Taxonomy

Division:

Bryophyta | - Mosses

Family:

Sphagnaceae

Genus:

Sphagnum

Species:

Sphagnum subsecundum

USDA Symbol:

SPSU9

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:

Nonvascular

Height:

15 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Ground Cover:

Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

amphibians, invertebrates

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Notes:

Wetland habitat typically precludes fire; peat fires can be destructive to Sphagnum colonies.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

nutrient-poor, waterlogged peat soil

pH:

4.0 - 5.5 (acidic)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

commonly found in bogs and wetlands

Propagation & Germination

Notes:

Reproduces via spores, not seeds; spore germination requires constantly wet, acidic conditions.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI