From a botanical point of view, the star moss (Sagina subulata) is actually not a moss, but a carnation plant. The name probably came about as a reference to the stocky growth and shade tolerance of these plants.
What location does star moss need in the garden?
Star moss prefers shady to sunny locations and is often used as a lawn replacement. Ideal locations include rock gardens, paving joints, cracks in walls or grave plantings. It requires well-drained soil and does not tolerate waterlogging.
The maintenance effort depends on the location
The star moss is often used as a lawn replacement on areas with little traffic when, due to shady conditions, the grass blades grow poorly and moss forms. However, star moss also rewards planting in sunny locations with stronger growth if it is watered sufficiently during dry periods. Since waterlogging is very poorly tolerated and the roots of star moss are rather short, moist locations with loamy subsoil can be prepared for sowing star moss by applying sandy planting substrate (€31.00 at Amazon).
An abundance of flowers in unusual places
The star moss, which is easily hardy in most locations, does not require a lot of soil or fertilizer to develop strong plants with a large number of star-shaped flowers. This makes it a versatile “gap filler” in the garden for the following locations:
- Rock gardens
- Paving joints
- Cutting natural stone walls
- as grave planting
Tip
The star moss itself is very frugal, but it hardly competes with other plants. Therefore, any foreign weed growth that occurs should be combated accordingly for the targeted cultivation of star moss.
