Polytrichum juniperinum aka Juniper Polytrichum Moss

Polytrichum juniperinum is an evergreen moss in the Polytrichaceae family. Its common names include hair-cap moss and juniper polytrichum moss. Plants For A Future lists Britain as its native range. This account does not define its wider range. It is a perennial, and its foliage stays through the year. The source gives no mature height or spread. It also gives no detailed account of its leaves or stems.

Its wild sites include heaths, rocks, and walls with dry, acid soil. These habitats offer the main clues to its growing needs. Plants For A Future lists both sandy and loamy soils as suitable. It gives a soil range from very acid to neutral. The moss can grow in sun or light shade. It accepts dry soil as well as moist soil. The source gives no hardiness zone or temperature limit.

The entry lists east-facing and west-facing walls as possible garden sites. Yet it states that detailed cultivation needs are not known. Its habitat notes should therefore guide trials, rather than promise success. There is no supported garden size or growth rate. Nor does the account describe pests or diseases. It marks the plant as having no weed potential. It lists no other practical uses beyond the medicinal uses below.

The source gives a method for raising plants from spores. Sow ripe spores promptly on the surface of sterile, humus-rich soil. Keep this growing medium moist during the early stages. A plastic bag over the pot can help retain moisture. Move small clumps into pots once they can withstand handling. Keep them humid while they become established. The source advises waiting until plants are at least two years old before outdoor planting. It calls for a site with strong shelter at that stage.

Plants For A Future records no known food uses. Its edible-use score is zero out of five. It also lists no known hazards, but this does not establish safety. The entry gives medicinal use a score of two out of five. It records use of the whole plant to increase urine flow. It also describes past use for fluid retention and urinary problems. These records describe medicinal use, not proof of safe treatment.