Naming Things Is Hard
There really is no moss like Spanish moss, and that’s because Spanish moss isn’t actually a moss. And it isn’t Spanish. Why’s it called Spanish moss if it’s neither of those things? It is thought that early French explorers related the plant’s appearance to the beards of rival Spanish explorers, and the plant also resembles a moss. Other common names that have been used for Spanish moss are grandfather’s whiskers, wizard’s beard, graybeard, old man’s beard, tree hair, and others.
Many animals like squirrels and birds use Spanish moss to pad their nests, and some bats and butterflies roost in the tangled bundles of stems. For those creatures, the only name for the plant that matters to them is home.
Easy to spot, hard to name.
Spanish moss prefers growing in climates where the humidity is thick and that means you’ll primarily see it growing along the coast in the southeastern part of the United States. Once you’re in the right location, you won’t have any problem seeing those gray spaghetti noodles hanging from the trees.
Go out on a limb and learn a little more about Spanish moss.
As an epiphyte or “air plant”, Spanish moss can pull all the nutrients it needs from the air around it. I’ve pulled a few of these resources below out of thin air to help you absorb more knowledge about Spanish moss!
Kids, remember to ask a parent, teacher, or librarian for help whenever you are looking for books or using the Internet. I always try to make sure to share kid-friendly books and resources, but websites are changing all the time, so always check with an adult first.
- When you look at the pictures of Spanish moss on this page, you’re probably not thinking, “That looks just like pineapples!” As it turns out, Spanish moss is actually related to pineapples. Find out more about that and other cool facts here from the University of Florida: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/suwanneeco/2017/12/18/spanish-moss-is-related-to-pineapples/
- This short article from the National Park Service has some interesting info about how humans have used Spanish moss in history: https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/teachers/lessonplans/Background%20reading%20-%20spanish%20moss.pdf
- The world of plants is amazing and if you’d like to dive deeper, the DK Knowledge Encyclopedia: Plants and Fungi is a really cool book that takes kids on a tour inside that world. Ask your librarian if they have a copy or visit this link to help you find a copy at your local bookstore: https://www.bookstorelink.com/9780744084719