Polytrichum commune Common haircap, Great golden maidenhair, PFAF Plant Database

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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Polytrichum commune is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. The flowers are pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

P. assimile Hampe P. brachypelma Müll. Hal. P. cataractarum Müll. Hal. P. commune var. commune P. commune var. uliginosum Wallr. P. elatum P. Beauv. P. leonii Papp P. madagassum Hampe P. mildbraedii Broth. P. paludicola Cardot P. purpurascens Brid. P. quadrangulare Gilib. P. radulifolium Müll. Hal. P. remotifolium P. Beauv. P. subformosum var. anomalum Thér

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

None Known

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Used by some people to make a tea to dissolve kidney and gall bladder stones (borealforest.org).

References More on Medicinal Uses

Other Uses

A low to medium density groundcover with a mat forming habit. An Ornamental for shady, damp areas. It is used by some people to make a tea to dissolve kidney and gall bladder stones (borealforest.org). Good for hair, Made into a tea to rinse to strengthen hair. Stems have been woven and used to make baskets (tolweb.org).

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers lightly shaded areas with moist slightly acidic soil, it can also survive in areas of full sunlight provided the soil is moist. Can also grow in areas of poor soil and slow drainage. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. A clumping mat former. Forming a dense prostrate carpet spreading indefinitely [1-2].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Spores. During the summer spores are released and carried by the wind.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Common haircap, great golden maidenhair, great goldilocks, common haircap moss, common hair moss

Native Range

Coming Soon

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Not Listed.

IUCN Red List

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Polytrichum juniperinum	Hair-Cap Moss, Juniper polytrichum moss	Perennial	0.0	0-0		LM	SN	DM	0	2

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Expert comment

Author

Hedw.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Polytrichum commune - Hedw.