Sagina subulata Green Moss

The Sagina subulata 'Green Moss' is a variety of naked subulate sagina with a beautiful emerald green colour that forms a delightful soft carpet reminiscent of moss. This very spreading and turf-forming perennial plant progresses by rooting itself in place, and is covered in late spring or summer with small white flowers. Decorative even in winter, very resistant to cold, it works wonders in rockeries, in the gaps between paving stones and walls, in a light soil that will always remain moist. Ideal in a Japanese-style setting!  

The Saginia subulata 'Green Moss' belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family, alongside about 20 other species that make up the Sagina genus. This is a small perennial plant native to Western Europe and temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere. This plant with trailing roots gradually forms a very low, evergreen mat of intense green colour, 6 to 10 cm (2 to 4in) in height, colonizing the ground by rooting small, ramified stoloniferous stems 1 cm (0in) long, until forming dense cushions over 25 cm (10in) in diameter. This plant's growth is quite slow. In late spring, from May to early July depending on the climate, the mat is covered with tiny white flowers measuring 4 mm (0in) in diameter. The naked subulate sagina remains very low and does not need to be mowed. 

This 'Green Moss carpet plant' offers the advantage of being able to vegetate an area where grass grows poorly, thanks to its trailing roots. The naked subulate Sagina develops to form a uniform mat that does not need to be mowed, and tolerates wet soils. Therefore, this plant is valued as a grass substitute. However, it is quite fragile and does not well tolerate trampling. Like soleirolia, this plant is appreciated in mosaic culture, in rockeries, or to fill the gaps between large paving stones and walls. It is also welcome in Japanese-inspired gardens. Paired with hostas and ferns or used to create a backdrop for a bed of fuchsias, it will be truly charming. The Sagina subulata 'Green Moss' is ideal for highlighting the edge of a bed or vegetating a container. It should be noted that this plant does not tolerate dry or excessively hot conditions, so it is best reserved for cool and slightly shaded areas. In full sun, it will require regular watering.