Bryophytes
13 Moss Companion Plants For Your Moss Garden
Are you looking for plants that grow well with moss? Pairing the correct plants with mossy areas enhances the beauty and the ecosystem of your garden. Below is a list of thirteen moss companion plants that you can use for your garden. The plants below complement moss because of shade tolerance, moisture requirements, and of course aesthetics.
We no longer supply the companion plants, only the moss. Any good shade nursery will have these. What we can tell you is which moss goes underneath them: fern moss and sheet moss for the open ground, mood moss where a stone or a root breaks the surface.
| Plant | Botanical name | Type | Height | Why it pairs with moss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Bluet | Houstonia caerulea | Perennial | Under 10cm | Tiny pale flowers at moss height, wants the same damp shade |
| Japanese Painted Fern | Athyrium niponicum | Fern | 30-45cm | Silver fronds against green moss, identical shade and moisture needs |
| Barrenwort | Epimedium | Perennial | 20-30cm | Dry shade tolerant, so it holds where other companions fail |
| Lady Fern | Athyrium filix-femina | Fern | 60-90cm | Height and vertical texture over a flat moss carpet |
| Canada Wild Ginger | Asarum canadense | Groundcover | 15-20cm | Broad low leaves that contrast moss without smothering it |
| Hosta | Hosta spp. | Perennial | 20-90cm | The classic shade partner; choose smaller cultivars so moss keeps light |
| Virginia Bluebell | Mertensia virginica | Spring ephemeral | 30-60cm | Flowers then disappears, giving moss the rest of the year |
| Liverwort | Hepatica | Perennial | 10-15cm | A bryophyte relative that wants exactly what moss wants |
| Lungwort | Pulmonaria officinalis | Perennial | 20-30cm | Spotted foliage and early flowers in deep shade |
| Coral Bell “Tapestry” | Heuchera | Perennial | 20-30cm | Colored foliage year round beside evergreen moss |
| Celandine Poppy | Stylophorum diphyllum | Perennial | 30-45cm | Yellow flowers in woodland shade, self-seeds gently |
| Mayapple | Podophyllum peltatum | Perennial | 30-45cm | Umbrella leaves create the dappled shade moss prefers |
| Strawberry Geranium | Saxifraga stolonifera | Groundcover | 15-20cm | Spreads by runners over moss without rooting through it |
1. Azure Bluet (Houstonia Caerulea)
One of my favorite moss companion plants is Azure Bluets. They are also known as Quaker ladies or Bluets, and are part of the Rubiaceae family. The picture above shows Bluets together with Fern moss (also known as Thuidium Delicatulum).
Characteristics: Azure Bluets, also known as Quaker ladies, thrive in partial to full shade. They mirro the low-light requirements of moss. Azure bluets prefer moist, well-drained soil, making them ideal companions for fern moss.
Growing Zones: Hardy in USDA zones 3-7.
2. Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium Niponicum)
Another plant that grows well with moss is the Japanese Painted Fern. The Latin name of this moss companion plant is Athyrium Niponicum. You can see it in the picture above growing together with Fern moss (also known as Thuidium Delicatulum).
Characteristics: The Japanese Painted Fern thrives in the same cool, shady, and moist conditions favored as moss and adds an interesting color to your garden with its silver and green appearance.
Growing Zones: Zones 5-8.
3. Barrenwort (Epimedium)
Barrenworts are also known as bishop’s hat, horny goat weed, or fairy wings. They are of the family Berberidaceae and are great moss companion plants.
The picture above shows a Barrenwort growing together with Fern moss (Thuidium Delicatulum) and Sheet moss (Hypnum Imponens).
Characteristics: The Barrenwort prefers the moist, well-drained conditions and thrives in the same conditions as moss. It’s a versatile plant that can thrive in both shade and partial sunny conditions.
Growing Zones: Zones 5-9.
4. Lady Fern (Athyrium Filix-Femina)
Lady ferns are closely related to the Japanese Painted Fern that I mentioned before. This fern is of a light green color and turns a bit yellowish in fall. In the picture above it grows together with Fern moss (Thuidium Delicatulum) and Baby Tooth Moss (Plagiomnium cuspidatum
Characteristics: Lady Ferns prefer the same shade and moisture levels as moss needs to survive. This plant is adaptable to various soil types and it will be happy as long as there is enough moisture and shade.
Growing Zones: Zones 4-9.
5. Canada Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense)
Canada wild ginger is also knows as Asarum Canadense and is a great moss companion plant. This plant is an is a herbaceous (vascular plants with no persistent woody stem above the ground). You can see it growing together with Fern moss (Thuidium Delicatulum) in the picture above.
TIP: If you are looking for live moss for your garden, you can buy it here.
Characteristics: The Canadian wild ginger ground thrives in the dense shade and moist soil similar to mosses. This makes it an excellent companion plant to moss.
Growing Zones: Zones 4-7.
6. Hosta Plants
Hostas are a genus of shade-tolerant foliage plants, widely grown in gardens. Therefore they go great together with moss since they thrive in shady areas of your garden.
In the picture above, you can see a Hosta as a companion plant to Fern moss (Thuidium Delicatulum) and Bryoandersonia Moss (Bryoandersonia Illecebra).
Characteristics: Hostas are known for their shade tolerance and low maintenance. They also thrive in conditions similar to moss. And like moss, they require well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
Growing Zones: Perfect for zones 3-9.
7. Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia Virginica)
Virginia Bluebells is also known as Mertensia Virginica and is another great moss companion. This plant with beautiful bell shaped, sky blue flowers, is native to North America.
In the picture above you can see it growing togeter with Fern moss (Thuidium Delicatulum) and Sheet moss (Hypnum Imponens).
Characteristics: Virginia Bluebells are spring ephemerals and prefer shaded to partially shaded areas with moist and rich soils similar to the natural habitat of moss.
Growing Zones: Zones 3-8.
8. Liverwort (Hepatica)
Liverwort plants are bisexual flowers and can apear in pink, purple, blue, or white. They are also known as Hepatica plants and are native to Northern and Central Europe and Eastern America.
This plant has basal and leathery leaves which are usually three-lobed. You can see this pretty flower in the picture above together with Fern moss (Thuidium Delicatulum).
Characteristics: Liverwort love shaded areas with well-drained soil and prefer the same conditions as moss. This plant is an early bloomer and offers color when most garden plants are just waking up from winter.
Growing Zones: Zones 4-8.
9. Lungwort (Pulmonaria Officinalis)
Lungworts have a few common names beside their Latin name Pulmonaria Officinalis. They are also known as Common Lungwort, Our Lady’s milk drops or Mary’s tears.
Their pointy leaves are green of color and have light patches. The flowers have five petals and are pink/red of color first before they turn purply/blue. You can a Lungwort in the picture above as a companion plant to Fern moss (Thuidium Delicatulum).
Characteristics: Lungwort prefers shaded to partially shaded gardens with moist, well-drained soil and is often found in mossy areas. The speckled leaves and spring blooms add a nice texture and color to your garden.
Growing Zones: Zones 3-9.
10. Coral Bell ‘Tapestry’ (Heuchera)
Coral bell plants (Heuchera) are known to be survive in the most shady parts of a garden. This plant grows very well together with mosses. You can see this native American plant above with with Fern moss (Thuidium Delicatulum) and Sheet moss (Hypnum Imponens).
Characteristics: Coral Bells are known for their tolerance to shade and their ability to grow in a variety of soil conditions and is often grown in combination with a mossy underlayer.
Growing Zones: Zones 4-9.
11. Celandine Poppy (Stylophorum Diphyllum)
The Celandine Poppy is a great moss companion and has the botanical name Stylophorum Diphyllum. You might also know this plant as Wood Poppy or Woodland Poppy.
The picture above shows you the Celandine Poppy as a companion plant to Fern moss (Thuidium Delicatulum).
Characteristics: This woodland wildflower loves the same shady, moist environments as moss.
Growing Zones: Best grown in zones 4-8.
12. Mayapple (Podophyllum Peltatum)
The Mayapple (botanical name Podophyllum Peltatum) is sometimes called American mandrak, wild mandrake, or ground lemon. You can find this plant across the Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada. They grow typically in woodlands and large colonies are derived from one root.
Mayapple plants have stems that grow up to 11 to 16 inches and have umbrella-like leaves. In the picture above you can see this plant with Fern moss (Thuidium Delicatulum) and Bryoandersonia Moss (Bryoandersonia Illecebra).
Characteristics: Mayapple prefers shaded to partially shaded areas with moist, well-drained soil. It forms a dense canopy wiht large and umbrella-like leaves.
Growing Zones: Thrives in zones 3-8.
13. Strawberry Geranium (Saxifraga Stolonifera)
The strawberry Geranium is the last moss companion plant on this list. Its botanical name is Saxifraga Stolonifera and it is a perennial flowering plant.
This moss companion plant is native to China, Korea, and Japan but you can find it now all over the Northern Hemisphere. You can see it in the picture with Bryoandersonia Moss (Bryoandersonia Illecebra) and a little, tiny sweet woodruff (Galium Odoratum).
Characteristics: This perennial is known for its tolerance of low light and prefers moist well-drained soils and is an excellent companion plant for moss.
Growing Zones: Zones 6-9.
Related reading: High Hopes · Fungi Frolick · A Day At The Beach
Pending review by Olivia Milner, practitioner-scientist with a background in sustainability and education.