Irish Moss (Sagina)
Perennial
- The soft ground cover resembles moss, but is a flowering perennial.
- Small, pearl-like flowers bloom in spring.
- Walkable ground cover can handle light foot traffic!
- Great for mass-planting or tucking between stepping stones.
- Zones 4-8, sun/part sun/shade, 1" tall x 12" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Common name: Irish moss
Zone: 4 - 8
Sun exposure: Shade (< 4 hours sun) to sun (+6 hours sun)
Height x width: 1" x 12"
Flower color: White
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Spring through fall
Bloom time: Spring
Features: Low flammability, ground covers, deer resistant
Uses: Alpine & rock, container gardening, edging, ground cover, rock garden, small spaces, underplanting.
How to Grow
Light: Shade (< 4 hours sun) to sun (+6 hours sun). Try to avoid hot afternoon sun.
Water: Needs regular watering but should not have soggy roots.
Spacing: 6"- 12"
Fertilizing: Fertilizing is not required unless soils are nutrient depleted or plants appear stressed. An application of slow-release fertilizer can be applied early spring as needed.
Winterizing: For a neat appearance, remove old foliage before new spring growth emerges.
Maintenance & pruning: Easily divided in early spring or fall by separating into smaller pieces.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
