Irish Moss plant profile
Sagina subulata
A perennial ornamental for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Irish Moss
Irish moss is a low, evergreen, moss-like groundcover that forms a dense green mat and bears tiny white daisy-like flowers in spring and early summer (NC State). Plant in spring in cool, moist, acid-to-neutral, rocky or sandy soil in full sun with some midday shade; most of its growth happens in the cool, moist weather of spring, and it dislikes intense heat, drought, and overwatering.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Irish Moss in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6 to 8
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4a to 8bFind my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Sagina subulata (Irish Moss, Scottish Moss, Heath Pearlwort)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.