Thrives without soil
Tillandsia usenoides
Family: Bromeliaceae
Conservation status: Least concern
Known as Spanish moss, Tillandsia usneoides, is not a moss at all. It is a member of the Bromeliaceae family, related to pineapple.
Spanish moss is an epiphyte, living on the surface of other plants – commonly Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) in the southern U.S. – or even telephone wires. It gets its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, or debris that accumulates around it.
Once harvested in large quantities for floor mats, insulation, rope, and upholstery stuffing, it is still used on a smaller scale in soil amendments, mulch, and for the floral industry.
Trichomes that resemble minuscule hairs or scales cover the plant’s surface, assisting in water and nutrient absorption while deflecting intense light. They also give Spanish moss its silvery-gray appearance that changes to a bright green when wet.
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