Yeah, yeah, I know there are going to be a lot of folks out there just itchin’ to contradict that fact.īut I have to tell you that in decades of hauling around great armloads of Spanish moss that I’ve collected from on the ground, and gathered from the yard trash piles of my neighbors who no doubt had collected that moss from the ground after it fell on their yards - I have never, not ever, experienced an encounter with “red bugs” or chiggers. Nor have they found red mites (the adults).” That is strange because entomologists have NOT found chiggers in Spanish moss on trees, even despite repeated attempts. An old wives' tale in the southern USA is that Spanish moss in trees contains chiggers. Here’s what one reputable online source, the Gainesville Bromeliad Society, says about that: “Larvae of Trombiculidae are called chiggers in the USA. And here’s where I am going to at least try to dispel that old wives’ tale about Spanish moss and chiggers, or what some call “red bugs.” Spanish moss plays a starring role in my gardens as a convenient, effective and free mulch material. These days, Spanish moss is mainly used for mulch and in craft materials. A more modern use of Spanish moss was in the early 20th century, when Henry Ford used it to stuff the seats of the Model T Fords.Īnd that last fact is probably where one of the most enduring old wives’ tales about Spanish moss persists to this day. In addition, Spanish moss was often woven into baskets, horse blankets and primitive clothing. It was later reported that the glow of the flames could be seen as far as Savannah, Georgia, and the smoke visible as far away as Raleigh, North Carolina. When it was all over, a total of 146 city blocks had been reduced to cinders and more than 2,000 buildings were destroyed. The dry fibers ignited, it is believed, from sparks at a nearby chimney.Ī fairly usual occurrence, this time the elements worked against those trying to extinguish the flames as a brisk wind picked up and the fire quickly spread to nearby structures. On a Friday in May in 1901, at a Jacksonville factory where Spanish moss was dried and processed for mattress stuffing, a fire broke out while workers were away for lunch. The moss could also be spun into rope, used to stuff pillows, mattresses, furniture and as a binding agent in bousillage-style construction. According to one source, it was noted by Francis Moore, a Federal colonist, in 1736 that the Native Americans used dried moss for wadding in black powder muskets and as tinder for starting fires. But we’ll dispel that last part in a bit. Spanish moss has long been appreciated, used, and even feared, by some. Many other birds use the moss in their nest construction. In truth, it provides cover for insects and small animals, including a warbler, the Northern Parula which nests within the long hanging “beards” of Spanish moss. Tupelo, mangrove, wildflower and more: Discovering that sweet reward of regional honeyĪnd contrary to what a lot of people believe, Spanish moss does not receive its nutrients from the tree itself, and in truth Spanish moss does not kill trees. More gardening tips: Upgrade your outdoor oasis with these cool plants for hot gardens Of course, it does not resemble what most of us think of as a bromeliad, but in truth it is in the same taxonomic family. Technically Spanish moss is a bromeliad, a relative of pineapples. Spanish moss can be found throughout this state and much of the southeast. In many trees, the water runoff from their leaves and branches is actually rich in minerals and provides more nutrients to the Spanish moss living within them. It receives its nutrients and moisture through the air and with sunshine. That is, it is a plant that grows on other plants, but it is not a parasite. Iconic, historic, mysterious, romantic even, and often misunderstood, Spanish moss really is not a moss at all.
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