Tillandsia Usneoides
Need it tomorrow? Order within 14 hrs 2 mins.
Tillandsia Usneoides
Soft, silvery strands that drape and sway like a curtain of mist. Spanish Moss needs no soil and no pot – hang it from a hook, drape it over a branch or let it trail from a shelf for an instantly enchanting, airy feel.
Also known as: Spanish Moss, Old Man's Beard, Grandpa's Beard, Air Plant
Origins & folklore: Despite its name, Spanish Moss isn't a moss at all, but a flowering plant in the pineapple family (Bromeliaceae). It grows wild from the south-eastern United States through Central America and the Caribbean down to Argentina and Chile, where it hangs in great grey curtains from oaks and cypress trees. Tiny silvery scales on its surface catch water and nutrients straight from the air and rain. Usneoides means 'like Usnea', a beard-like lichen it closely resembles.
Linnaeus named the genus after the botanist Elias Tillandz – and the story goes that Tillandz so hated sea travel that he walked hundreds of miles rather than sail, so Linnaeus assumed these plants disliked water too. In the American South, legend has it that French settlers nicknamed it 'Spanish beard' to tease Spanish explorers, who replied by calling it 'French wig'. Over the centuries it has been dried and used to stuff mattresses, furniture and even early car seats. In summer it may surprise you with tiny, fragrant green flowers.
Size: As an air plant, it comes without a pot – we attach a wire hook so it's ready to hang.
Care guide
• Light: Bright, indirect light. Near (but not right in) a sunny window is perfect; a bright bathroom is ideal.
• Watering: Mist thoroughly 2–3 times a week, more often when the heating is on. Alternatively, dunk it in water for 10–20 minutes once a week, shake gently and hang it up to dry. Rainwater is ideal – and we're never short of that on the island!
• Humidity & temperature: Loves humidity and good air circulation. Happiest between 10–30°C; keep away from frost, radiators and fires.
• Feeding: Add a little air plant or bromeliad feed to your misting water once a month in spring and summer.
• Good to know: Make sure it dries within a few hours after watering, and never keep it bunched up tightly while wet, as this can cause rot. It looks silvery when dry and greener just after watering.
Toxicity: Non-toxic. Considered safe for humans, cats and dogs.
Also known as: Spanish Moss, Old Man's Beard, Grandpa's Beard, Air Plant
Origins & folklore: Despite its name, Spanish Moss isn't a moss at all, but a flowering plant in the pineapple family (Bromeliaceae). It grows wild from the south-eastern United States through Central America and the Caribbean down to Argentina and Chile, where it hangs in great grey curtains from oaks and cypress trees. Tiny silvery scales on its surface catch water and nutrients straight from the air and rain. Usneoides means 'like Usnea', a beard-like lichen it closely resembles.
Linnaeus named the genus after the botanist Elias Tillandz – and the story goes that Tillandz so hated sea travel that he walked hundreds of miles rather than sail, so Linnaeus assumed these plants disliked water too. In the American South, legend has it that French settlers nicknamed it 'Spanish beard' to tease Spanish explorers, who replied by calling it 'French wig'. Over the centuries it has been dried and used to stuff mattresses, furniture and even early car seats. In summer it may surprise you with tiny, fragrant green flowers.
Size: As an air plant, it comes without a pot – we attach a wire hook so it's ready to hang.
Care guide
• Light: Bright, indirect light. Near (but not right in) a sunny window is perfect; a bright bathroom is ideal.
• Watering: Mist thoroughly 2–3 times a week, more often when the heating is on. Alternatively, dunk it in water for 10–20 minutes once a week, shake gently and hang it up to dry. Rainwater is ideal – and we're never short of that on the island!
• Humidity & temperature: Loves humidity and good air circulation. Happiest between 10–30°C; keep away from frost, radiators and fires.
• Feeding: Add a little air plant or bromeliad feed to your misting water once a month in spring and summer.
• Good to know: Make sure it dries within a few hours after watering, and never keep it bunched up tightly while wet, as this can cause rot. It looks silvery when dry and greener just after watering.
Toxicity: Non-toxic. Considered safe for humans, cats and dogs.
Create an account