Scientific Name:
Sagina subulata
Pronunciation:
suh-JYE-nuh sub-you-LAY-tuh
Common Name:
Irish moss, pearlwort
Family Name:
Caryophyllaceae
Plant Type:
Ground cover, Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Low-growing prostrate perennial plant forming a thick, dense mat, stems <10cm long; leaves opposite, slender subulate (awl-shaped), to 1cm long; flowers solitary, 4-5mm wide, five white petals as long as the green sepals; capsules 2.5-3mm long, seeds triangular shaped, 0.4-0.5mm, brown and smooth.
Habit:
Dense, Spreading
Form:
Creeping / Mat-like
Texture:
Fine
Mature Height:
< 0.1m
Mature Spread:
0.1 - 0.3m
Growth Rate:
Slow
Origin:
Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Low
Landscape Uses:
Accent plant, Alpine, Container planting, Ground cover, Rock garden, Small garden/space
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown or on campus include S. ‘Aurea’ (yellowish leaf colour). Compare to Scotch moss, moss sandwort (very similar but the florets are arranged in cymes).
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Needle-like
Arrangement:
Opposite
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Glandular hairs
Colour in Fall:
Green
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Acute
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers solitary, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun, Jul
Additional Info:
Scotch moss has flowers arranged in cymes
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Green, Brown
Fruiting Time:
Jul, Aug
Additional Info:
Not showy
Bark or Stem Colour:
Propagation:
Seed, Division - above ground parts
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Leaf scorch, Slugs or snails
Course(s):
- HORT 1155
- Level 3 Apprenticeship
Location(s):
- (FEA) Field lab Equipment Area
- (HPZ) Horticulture PlaZa