• Photo of Sagina subulata 'Aurea' (Sagina subulata 'Aurea's)

Plant Profile: Sagina subulata 'Aurea'

Names

Scotch Moss

  • Photo of Sagina subulata 'Aurea' (Sagina subulata 'Aurea's)

Phonetic Spelling:sa-GEE-nuh sub-yoo-LAH-tuh

Genus:Sagina

Species:subulata

Family:Caryophyllaceae

Yellow Scotch Moss is a low-growing, soft herbaceous perennial that serves as an excellent groundcover with minimal upkeep. Its vibrant, evergreen, moss-like foliage creates a striking neon-yellow carpet, making it ideal for filling gaps between pavers, enhancing rock gardens, or lining pathways. It can withstand light foot traffic.

In contrast to true moss, which thrives in damp, shaded environments, Yellow Scotch Moss prefers full sun to partial shade and requires well-drained soil.

While true moss does not produce flowers, Yellow Scotch Moss features small, solitary star-shaped blooms. The rounded green buds open to reveal five petals.

This plant is easy to propagate; simply divide a clump into smaller sections. The optimal times for division are early spring or fall. Although it can self-seed, any unwanted growth can be easily managed.

In terms of pests, diseases, and other issues, Yellow Scotch Moss may not be suitable for areas with high heat and humidity, as it can lose its appeal until conditions improve. It also struggles in drought situations.

For further details on Sagina subulata, additional resources are available.

Sagina subulata 'Aurea' Feature Summary

Sagina subulata 'Aurea' Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#white flowers
#easy to grow
#low maintenance
#spring flowers
#mass planting
#edging
#herbaceous
#deer resistant
#groundcover
#rock gardens
#lush
#border front
#pathways
#container plants

Similar Plants

Sagina subulata 'Aurea' Feature Summary

Attributes
Western and Central Europe
Perennial
Textural
Easy to Grow
Defines Paths
Fruit
An oblong capsule with tiny, smooth triangular seeds. They may self-sow.
Brown/Copper
Flowers
Tiny, white transulsent flowers add interest in the spring.
Spring
Summer
4-5 petals/rays
Leaves
Chartreuse green
Green
Gold/Yellow
Subulate
Stem
Thin, creeping stems.
Green
Gold/Yellow
Whole Plant Traits
Herbaceous Perennial
Ground Cover
Spreading
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Less than 12 inches
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Landscape
Rock Garden
Cottage Garden
Asian Garden
Fairy Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Container
Patio
Walkways
Slope/Bank

Sagina subulata 'Aurea' Attributes

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Country Or Region Of Origin

Western and Central Europe

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Sagina subulata 'Aurea' Fruit

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Fruit Description

An oblong capsule with tiny, smooth triangular seeds. They may self-sow.

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper

Sagina subulata 'Aurea' Flowers

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Flower Description

Tiny, white transulsent flowers add interest in the spring.

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Sagina subulata 'Aurea' Leaves

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Leaf Description

Chartreuse green

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Leaf Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Green

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Sagina subulata 'Aurea' Stem

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Stem Description

Thin, creeping stems.

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Stem Color

grass
Gold/Yellow
grass
Green

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Sagina subulata 'Aurea' Whole Plant Traits

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Sagina subulata 'Aurea' Cultural Conditions

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Sagina subulata 'Aurea' Landscape

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Sagina subulata 'Aurea': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland