Weed Watch - Spanish Moss

Published on 14 May 2025

Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides) is a slender, blue-grey air plant, often seen hanging from tree branches and shrubs. As an air plant, it lacks roots and absorbs all nutrients and moisture directly from the air. It has distinctive, thread-like leaves measuring 20–45 mm in length, around 1 mm in diameter, and is curly in appearance.

Commonly used by homeowners as a decorative plant, Spanish Moss is widely available for purchase online and at nurseries. Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, it thrives in humid, wet environments and can tolerate both full sun and partial shade. During dry periods, the plant may become dormant, resuming growth once conditions improve.

Although not listed as a priority weed under the Greater Sydney Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan 2023–2027, Spanish Moss can spread easily via birds and wind. Residents who live near bushland, are encouraged to remove it by hand from their garden to help prevent further spread into natural areas.

For more information, visit the NSW WeedWise website.