Spanish Moss, Mistletoe and Other Epiphytes

Article By: Audrey Durr
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program Coordinator

One of the many things that I love about Citrus County is the "old Florida" look that Spanish moss lends to the cypress, live oak and other trees, especially the canopy of Spanish moss on Orange Avenue in Floral City. The recent rains have benefited the Spanish moss and have also spurred the reaction in some people, “It’s killing my tree!”

The truth about Spanish moss is that it does not parasitize trees and it is mostly likely to thrive when a tree is already in a state of decline or its canopy is otherwise sparse for some reason. Spanish moss tends to grow faster on stressed trees, but it is not the cause of poor tree growth. In order for Spanish moss to occur, the proper conditions must exist: access to limited light for photosynthesis (partial shade). Spanish moss is more likely to develop in a tree that is nearing the end of its lifespan or has sparse leaf coverage (due to drought stress, for example) than in a young, vigorous tree.

Spanish moss, ball moss, resurrection fern and lichens are all epiphytes, which means that they get their water and nutrients from rainfall, the air, dust, etc.; epiphytes only use their host plant as support and do not parasitize it in any way.

Large accumulations of Spanish moss that are causing limb breakage or over-shading the leaves can be removed manually (and make a great mulching material), however, I strongly suggest leaving the Spanish moss whenever possible.

Spanish moss provides a number of benefits to wildlife: several species of songbirds use it for nests, plus, the Northern Yellow Bat and the Seminole Bat, as well as reptiles and amphibians, use the moss as habitat and provide natural pest control in your yard. Chiggers only infest Spanish moss when it is on the ground, not when it’s still in the tree.

Mistletoe, on the other hand, is a plant parasite that steals water and nutrients from its host, causing stress and sometimes death, especially in trees that are already stressed. Mistletoe is most likely to occur in laurel oaks, hickories and other hardwood trees and it is most noticeable this time of year as a "ball of leaves" in dormant trees. Mistletoe should be removed by pruning off the host tree’s limb at least six inches below the point of attachment so that all of the mistletoe’s roots are removed.

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