Here in the US it seems to prefer both the Southern Live Oak and Bald Cypress trees. These trichomes are used to collect and absorb the nutrients it needs to survive. Living up in trees give it the perfect vantage point to collect water, fog, dust and debris with its fuzzy hair like trichomes. Like other air plants, Spanish Moss collects nutrients from the air and not the plants on which it grows. Línea B-6 Satelite, Suchitepéquez Department.Cantón San José, Suchitepéquez Department.Our Schools in Guatemala Expand submenu.About Ordering Wholesale Expand submenu.So enjoy the sight of the gray strands blowing in the gentle breeze, but do not touch. Beyond our Leave No Trace policies, this is a very bad idea as chiggers or Spanish Moss lice is commonly found in the plant and causes itchy red bumps. Spanish Moss hanging from Southern Live Oaks has been featured in movies and media making it a very recognizable plant and visitors have even tried to take a piece of the south back home.

People have used Spanish moss for everything from clothing, to packing material, tea, to seat stuffing. This plant loves humid, moist environments. It does not directly harm the tree, although an abundance can block some sunlight from reaching leaves. Spanish Moss gets water and sunlight by hanging off of high branches in trees. It’s actually a native air plant or epiphyte, more closely related to pineapple than to moss.

The poorly named Spanish Moss hanging from the trees around you is neither Spanish nor a moss. Look up, to the right, to the left, surrounding you here is a southern icon.

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