General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Partial or Dappled Shade
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 8b
Plant Height: 1 inch (1-2,5cm)
Leaves: Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: White
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Uses: Erosion control
Groundcover
Will Naturalize
Suitable for miniature gardens
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Containers: Suitable in 1 gallon
Suitable in 3 gallon or larger

Image
Common names
  • Irish Moss
  • Pearlwort
  • Corsican Pearl Wort
  • Heath Pearlwort
  • Scottish Moss

Photo Gallery
Photo by Fieldsof_flowers
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Date: 2020-06-09
Location: z6a MA, my garden
Date: 2011-07-24
Note more golden colored clumps (2) of S. subulata 'Aurea'
Location: Bea’s garden
Date: 2021
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Date: 2020-06-09
Location:  Friend's Garden Path, Oasis, B.C.
Date: 2007-06-08
11:21 am. Lovely soft cushions of Irish Moss, interspersed with f
Location: Beautiful Tennessee, my garden
Date: 2017-12-09
Location: Indiana  Zone 5
Date: 2008-06-02
garden setting
Location: Fairfax, VA
Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-07-29
Flowers are veeeery tiny!
Location: Tochigi, Japan
Date: 2017-04-22
Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-06-29
Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-07-24
Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-07-26

Pretty, delicate little blooms

Moss is so soft and the blooms seem to twinkle!
Location: DISCLAIMER: This is an old photo from an old phone. I don't know why, but the photos look "deep fried". sorry about that.
Location: Cedarhome, Washington
Date: 2012-04-13
Photo by sedumzz
Location: My garden, Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens in South Amana, IA
Date: 2009-06-14
Location: English Gardens, Dearborn Hts, MI
Date: 2010-04-26
Location: English Gardens, Dearborn Hts, MI
Date: 2010-04-26

Courtesy Outsidepride
  • Uploaded by Joy
Photo by sedumzz
Location: Maine
Date: 2013-06-14
Very dense, nicely mounded with tiny white flowers. Perfect for t
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (Outdoors)
Location: English Gardens, Dearborn Hts, MI
Date: 2010-04-26
Location: English Gardens, Dearborn Hts, MI
Date: 2010-04-26
Location: Tennessee
Date: 2014-03-16
Winter
Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2011-11-23
Location: Luray TN
Date: 2016-04-17
Location: Fairfax, VA | July, 2022
Date: 2022-07-24
Photo by sedumzz
Photo by sedumzz
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (Outdoors)
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (Outdoors)
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by TheMainer (Maine - Zone 4b) on Nov 26, 2022 2:43 PM concerning plant:
    In 2009 I bought a 4-inch pot and planted it on my dirt stairs leading from my back yard to the side yard. It grew very well there and soon covered all four stairs. Then it branched out into the flower beds to both sides and was escaping into the lawn and the side yard where it was definitely not wanted. After a giant fail in chasing after it, I decided to remove it all. I am STILL trying to get rid of it all. Each year I've hoped it wouldn't return, but somehow it does. There are lots of mistakes I as a gardener have made, but this is the biggest ever. I'm hoping next season I will win the war against this seemingly innocuous beauty.
  • Posted by gardengus (Indiana Zone 5b) on Apr 8, 2016 2:37 PM concerning plant:
    I have attempted to successfully keep this plant over winter three times, both in a pot and in the ground. Seems not to be hardy here in my zone 5 garden.
    Still a beautiful plant, so I use it as an annual. Great in miniature gardens and as an accent in pots.
  • Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on Dec 19, 2012 3:04 AM concerning plant:
    Irish Moss has been growing along the side of our house for as long as I can remember (we moved into our newly built house in May 1997).

    I love it! It's so soft to the touch! Maybe that's why the Chickadees love to gather some of it and add it to the bottom of the birdhouses I hang, so that their eggs and the baby Chickadee birds will have a soft, smooth, and comfortable nest!
  • Posted by eclayne (Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA - Zone 6a) on Feb 5, 2013 11:16 AM concerning plant:
    I've been growing these for several years and after terrific spring and early summer growth, always have to deal with decline in mid to late summer through autumn. In different full sun locations the centers tended to die out. The first time I divided these I noticed the mesh sleeve the starters were grown out (six packs) from hadn't deteriorated and thought that might be the problem. After division, a similar die back occurred the following year. This year I'll try a moist shaded location for some of those that I have left.
Plant Events from our members
Catmint20906 On May 10, 2015 Bloomed
aspenhill On May 15, 2017 Obtained plant
Meadows Farms - qty 27
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