Moss in Mountain Modern Landscapes

In Colorado's mountains, you can find various moss species, including alpine bryum moss, silvergreen bryum moss, and dry calcareous bryum moss, thriving in moist, shady locations.

What Types of Moss Grow in Colorado Mountain Gardens?

Here's a more detailed look at mosses in Colorado's mountains:

• Common Moss Species:

  • Alpine Bryum Moss (Bryum alpinum): Found in alpine environments.

  • Silvergreen Bryum Moss (Bryum argenteum): Also found in alpine areas.

  • Dry Calcareous Bryum Moss (Bryum caespiticium): Prefers dry, calcareous (limestone) soils.

  • Other Mosses: Broom Fork-moss (Dicranum scoparium) and Fountain Apple Moss (Philonotis fontana) are also found in Colorado.

• Where to Find Them:

  • Mosses are commonly found in moist, shady locations, such as woodland and forest floors.

  • They can also be found on rocks, soil, and even trees.

• Moss Characteristics:

  • Mosses are small, nonvascular, spore-bearing plants.

  • They have stems and leaves, but not true roots.

  • They rely on damp conditions for reproduction, as the male cells need a film of water to reach the female cells for fertilization.

• Ecological Role:

  • Mosses play an important role in the ecosystem by helping to retain moisture in the soil and providing habitat for small animals.

  • Some animals, like pikas, rely on moss as a food source, especially during harsh winter conditions.

• Mount Moss:

  • There is a mountain in Colorado called Mount Moss, located on the boundary of La Plata and Montezuma Counties.

  • It is located 16 miles northwest of Durango, on land managed by the San Juan National Forest.
    
    

    How to Style an Alpine Moss Garden in Colorado

    Once you decide you want to incorporate moss into your landscape design, the next step is to determine what types of moss grow in your area. Generally speaking, moss likes shady and damp environments, so you’ll want to find a place in your yard or homestead that provides the ideal microclimate. For example, rocky facades near a creek or pond under a tree or brush would be ideal.

Inspiration from Brave DIYers

Here is a picture from a moss enthusiast who collected moss from parking lots to create a moss garden. We don’t recommend collecting moss from public parks, public right of way, private land, or anywhere that you don’t have permission or know it is legal. In other words, don’t try this at home. That said, here is the link to the Reddit thread where you will learn that more than this one person is a parking lot moss hunter/gatherer.