Sphagnum Moss

moss · water-absorber · bog-builder · plant superpowers

Incredible water storage. Sphagnum moss can hold 16 to 26 times as much water as its own dry weight. That's like a sponge that never runs out of liquid to soak up.

Alive and dead both work. Whether the moss cells are living or dead, they can still trap and hold huge amounts of water inside them. This means even when parts of the moss die, the whole pile keeps working as a super-sponge.

Empty cells do the trick. Sphagnum has special empty cells that help it keep water trapped, especially when conditions get dry. These tiny air pockets are the secret to the moss's amazing water-holding power.

Massive moss piles. Accumulations of sphagnum build up over time and can create thick, bouncy carpets in wetlands and bogs. These mossy beds are found all around the world.

Hundreds of species. There are approximately 380 different species of sphagnum moss, each slightly different but all with the same water-loving superpowers.