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Tillandsia recurvata
Also called Ball moss, Ballmoss, Old Man's Beard, Thread Leaved Wild Pine, Bunch Moss
Small ballmoss is a tiny epiphytic bromeliad, not a true moss, that grows on tree branches and other hosts without harming them. It needs bright indirect to shaded conditions, good air movement and humidity, and absorbs water and nutrients through its leaves.
Tillandsia recurvata, commonly known as small ballmoss or ball moss, is a flowering plant (not a true moss) in the family Bromeliaceae that grows upon larger host plants. It grows well in areas with low light, little airflow, and high humidity, which is commonly provided by southern shade trees, often the southern live oak (Quercus virginiana). It is not a parasite like mistletoe, but an epiphyte like its relative Spanish moss.
Tillandsia recurvata derives mainly physical support and not nutrition from its host; it photosynthesizes its own food, absorbing water that collects on its leaves. It obtains nitrogen from bacteria, and other minerals largely from blown dust.
Tillandsia recurvata can be used as animal fodder.
Tillandsia argentea · Octopus Plant · Tillandsia concolor · Wallisia cyanea · Spanish moss · Airplants
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Tillandsia recurvata by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
