Spanish Moss at Cedar Point

Spanish Moss is an air plant.

NPS

Quick Facts

Location:

30.43920, -81.47133

Look up, to the right, to the left, surrounding you here is a southern icon. The poorly named Spanish Moss hanging from the trees around you is neither Spanish nor a moss. It’s actually a native air plant or epiphyte, more closely related to pineapple than to moss. Spanish Moss gets water and sunlight by hanging off of high branches in trees. It does not directly harm the tree, although an abundance can block some sunlight from reaching leaves. This plant loves humid, moist environments. People have used Spanish moss for everything from clothing, to packing material, tea, to seat stuffing. Animals use it for a nesting material.  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. 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. So enjoy the sight of the gray strands blowing in the gentle breeze, but do not touch.