Page 6 - June 2020 Hernando
P. 6
6 • SEPTEMBER 2020 - Senior Voice of Hernando County
What Is Not Killing Your
Tree: Spanish Moss
By Dr. William Lester, UF/
IFAS Extension Hernando
County and
Dr. Kathleen Shields, UF/IFAS
Hernando County Extension
Master Gardener
Did you know?
Pictured left to right: Marcia E. Strachan, to Central and South America and the
RoseAnn Bright, and Amanda Palermo of the • Spanish moss is neither Spanish southeastern US. Native Americans
Nature Coast 912 Patriots delivered donated nor a moss. called it Itla-okla, which meant “tree
school supplies to Moon Lake Elementary • Spanish moss is not a parasite; it hair”, but early French explorers
School in New Port Richey, and West Side gets all its nutrients from the air
Elementary School in Hernando County. thought it looked like the Spanish
and rainwater. conquistadors’ long beards, so they
The group also delivered pet supplies to • Spanish moss has a key role in called it “Spanish Beard”. Over time,
the Animal Shelter in Brooksville and Pasco Spanish beard became Spanish moss.
Animal Services in Land O’ Lakes. Florida’s ecology.
Financing was provided by donations from Our office receives frequent calls Spanish moss produces tiny seeds
members of the Nature Coast 912 Patriots. from residents worried that their with feathery appendages that allow
(Photo courtesy of Nature Coast 912 Patriots) tree is being killed by Spanish moss. them to float through the air, but
Contrary to widely held belief, it is more likely to propagate from
Spanish moss is not a parasite. It fragmented pieces carried by birds or
Pine Island Park is an epiphytic plant that grows on the wind. Many animals use Spanish
Open to the Public another plant but does not utilize the moss for protection, taking cover in
host plant for nutrients. Epiphytes, the thick masses. Several species of
Hernando County Parks and Recreation sometimes known as “air plants”, songbirds use the plant material for
has reopened Alfred McKethan/Pine get all their nutrients from the air nest building or weave their nests in
Island Park, located at 10840 Pine Island and rainwater, and they make their clumps of moss. While the plant is
Dr. near Hernando Beach. Contact Parks own food. Spanish moss does not not parasitic, heavy accumulations
and Recreation at 352-754-4027 for more have any roots. It uses its long, scaly can weigh down branches and
information. stems to wrap around the host tree over-shade existing foliage. Dead
and hang down from the branches. and declining trees generally have
The stems are covered with cup- numerous bare branches that easily
Master Gardeners Nursery like, permeable scales that retrieve catch wind-blown moss, while
Open Wednesdays and moisture and nutrients from the air healthy trees generally outgrow any
Saturdays and from pockets on the surface of moss that lands on them. You do not
need to remove Spanish moss from
trees. The plant’s tissues can hold
The Master Gardeners Nursery, specializing in more water than it needs, so it can your trees, but if you do not like the
Florida native and Florida-Friendly plants, is withstand long dry periods, and look, use gloves or a hook to remove
open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. in extreme droughts, it becomes any accumulations. Having your
to noon, weather permitting. Located at 19490 dormant until moisture returns. trees sprayed with a copper fungicide
Oliver St., Brooksville, behind the Hernando When the tissues plump up after a is not recommended because it turns
County Fairgrounds, the nursery has a large rain, Spanish moss appears greenish, the moss into black slime in the tree,
selection of no-pesticide healthy stock at great and as the water is used, it returns to which is neither healthy for the tree
prices. Only cash and checks will be accepted. a gray hue. or attractive.
The nursery strictly adheres to the state’s Spanish moss is not a type of moss; it For answers to your gardening
COVID-19 guidelines for public safety to is a bromeliad, related to pineapples questions, contact UF IFAS
include limits on number of customers, social and many popular houseplants. It Extension Hernando County at 352-
distancing, and sanitation. More information is does not exist in Spain but is native 754-4433.
available at 352-754-4433.
