Tillandsia usneoides: Uses (Ethnobotany)
The fibers were woven into a coarse cloth that was used for bedding, floor mats and horse blankets. The fibers could be twisted into cordage that was used as rope. Many other uses for this plant.
Plant Profile: Tillandsia usneoides
Taxonomy: Tillandsia usneoidesNames
Air-plant, Grandfather's Whiskers, Graybeard, Long Moss, Old Man's Beard, Spanish Moss, Wool Crepe
Phonetic Spelling:til-LAND-see-uh us-nee-OY-deez
Genus:Tillandsia
Species:usneoides
Family:Bromeliaceae
Spanish moss, a member of the bromeliad family, is classified as an 'air plant.' This unique plant is recognized for its cascading silver leaves that gracefully hang from the branches of aging or lifeless trees. Typically, it thrives in humid environments near bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and ponds, and is indigenous to the southeastern United States, stretching from North Carolina to Texas along the coastal plain.
The delicate, elongated stems of Spanish moss cling to trees and occasionally to fences for support. Lacking roots, the grayish scales on its stems and leaves serve as a means to absorb moisture and nutrients. For optimal growth, it requires a humid atmosphere free from pollution. Regular pruning is necessary to prevent the plant from becoming overly heavy, which could lead to branch breakage or excessive shading of the host tree. Spanish moss can also be cultivated indoors, provided it receives consistent misting and maintains a humid environment.
Additionally, this versatile plant can be utilized in various ways, including as mulch, packing material, insulation, or for creative arts and crafts projects.
Quick Identification Guide
Tillandsia usneoides Feature Summary
Tillandsia usneoides Image Gallery
Tags
#full sun tolerant
#houseplant
#silver leaves
#epiphytic
#stream banks
#swamps
#coastal plants
#fantz
#air plant
#humidity tolerant
#partial shade tolerant
Similar Plants
Tillandsia usneoides is often confused with:
Tillandsia usneoides Feature Summary
Attributes
The fibers were woven into a coarse cloth that was used for bedding, floor mats and horse blankets. The fibers could be twisted into cordage that was used as rope. Many other uses for this plant.
SE North America, South America
SE USA from NC to texas
Several species of bats including the Seminole bat roost in clumps of Spanish moss. Yellow-throated warblers and northern parulas build their nests inside clumps of living Spanish moss. Several other species of birds gather the moss for nesting material. There is at least one species of spider that only occurs in Spanish moss. It has been used as fodder for cattle.
Perennial
Seed
Division
Fruit
Small capsuled fruit with seeds that have hairy sails to float on the wind and stick to tree branches.
Capsule
Flowers
The inflorescence is a very short terminal spike. Flowers are solitary, terminal, fragrant, pale blue or green; petals <.5 inch; bracts gray, scale-like. Blooms for 3-4 months in summer to fall.
Blue
Green
Fragrant
Summer
Fall
2-3 rays/petals
< 1 inch
Leaves
Leaves are awl-shaped alternate, simple, linear, entire, cylindrical (terete), succulent, gray-green, densely covered with absorbent gray scales, to 1.5- 3 inches.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Gray/Silver
Simple
Alternate
Linear
Entire
1-3 inches
< 1 inch
Stem
The stem is wiry, flexuous, with widely spaced internodes to 2.5 inches. It can hang down up to 20 inches long.
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Coastal
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Landscape
Rain Garden
Houseplants
Coastal
Vertical Spaces
Pond
Tillandsia usneoides Image Gallery
Tillandsia usneoides Attributes
Tillandsia usneoides: Country Or Region Of Origin
SE North America, South America
Tillandsia usneoides: Distribution
SE USA from NC to texas
Tillandsia usneoides: Wildlife Value
Several species of bats including the Seminole bat roost in clumps of Spanish moss. Yellow-throated warblers and northern parulas build their nests inside clumps of living Spanish moss. Several other species of birds gather the moss for nesting material. There is at least one species of spider that only occurs in Spanish moss. It has been used as fodder for cattle.
Tillandsia usneoides: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Tillandsia usneoides: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Tillandsia usneoides Fruit
Tillandsia usneoides: Fruit Description
Small capsuled fruit with seeds that have hairy sails to float on the wind and stick to tree branches.
Tillandsia usneoides: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Tillandsia usneoides Flowers
Tillandsia usneoides: Flower Description
The inflorescence is a very short terminal spike. Flowers are solitary, terminal, fragrant, pale blue or green; petals <.5 inch; bracts gray, scale-like. Blooms for 3-4 months in summer to fall.
Tillandsia usneoides: Flower Color
Blue
Green
Tillandsia usneoides: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Tillandsia usneoides: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Tillandsia usneoides: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Tillandsia usneoides: 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
Tillandsia usneoides: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Tillandsia usneoides Leaves
Tillandsia usneoides: Leaf Description
Leaves are awl-shaped alternate, simple, linear, entire, cylindrical (terete), succulent, gray-green, densely covered with absorbent gray scales, to 1.5- 3 inches.
Tillandsia usneoides: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Tillandsia usneoides: Leaf Color
Gray/Silver
Tillandsia usneoides: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Tillandsia usneoides: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Tillandsia usneoides: 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
Tillandsia usneoides: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Tillandsia usneoides: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Tillandsia usneoides: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Tillandsia usneoides: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Tillandsia usneoides Stem
Tillandsia usneoides: Stem Description
The stem is wiry, flexuous, with widely spaced internodes to 2.5 inches. It can hang down up to 20 inches long.
Tillandsia usneoides: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Tillandsia usneoides Whole Plant Traits
Tillandsia usneoides: 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
Tillandsia usneoides: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Tillandsia usneoides: 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
Tillandsia usneoides Cultural Conditions
Tillandsia usneoides: 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)
Tillandsia usneoides: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Tillandsia usneoides: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Tillandsia usneoides Landscape
Tillandsia usneoides: 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
Tillandsia usneoides: 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
