Things To Do With Spanish Moss

This past weekend we took a ski trip on the west side of the Cascades.  Before heading out in the morning, I gathered some Spanish moss to make a garland.  Simply pull it off the trees and wrap the strips around twine and into small balls.  It naturally clings to itself, so no glue is required.

Spanish Moss grows naturally from Argentina to the southern United States. It is actually not a moss, but rather a member of the pineapple family, which is often found hanging on the branches of trees. Its common name is Spanish Moss or Old Man's Whiskers, and its botanic name is Tillandsia Usneoides.

Spanish moss is a perennial, moss-like epiphyte. It does not have roots, and hangs in long grey strands from the trunks and branches of host trees. The slender stems are covered in silvery white scales which absorb moisture and nutrients from the air.

Spanish moss can be grown on tree branches, or hung on fences to form an unusual privacy screen. It makes an excellent garden mulch.

It makes an excellent packaging material.

Birds use it as nesting material.

It was used to stuff old mattresses and seats of T-Model Ford cars.

Gin's Place recommends using Spanish moss to make homemade paper.

Log Home provides a tutorial on how to create Spanish moss wreaths.

If you cannot pick it off a tree, various craft stores and Pottery Barn sell packets of Spanish moss around $10-$15 per bag.

If you want to do something entirely unique, Emvergeoning suggests...