Common haircap, Great golden maidenhair,
Polytrichum commune

Family: Polytrichaceae

What it is like

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.

Height (m): 0.2

Where it is found

Typically grows in bogs, wet heathland and along forest streams.

Widely distributed throughout temperate and boreal latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere and also found in Mexico, several Pacific Islands including New Zealand, and also in Australia.

Conservation Status: Not Listed.

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 1

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

Other

Rating: 3

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).

How it is grown

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.

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

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 2-10

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

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

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