If, while growing up, you were also taught that the moss always grows only on one particular side of the tree, maybe it is now time to take that theory and debunk it once and for all.
In this article, you can read everything you need to know regarding moss – learn what side of a tree does moss grow on and whether you can navigate in nature only with the help of the moss. So, keep reading!
What Side of a Tree Does Moss Grow On?
The straightforward answer is on the north side; I would like to stop you there. As many studies and research have been done on this topic, today, the answer to this question has significantly changed.
Namely, one well-conducted study from Michigan State University claims that the moss does not grow only on the north side, but it can also grow on the south side of the trees.
The main reason behind this is that the moss does not “chooses” the north side of the trees but “chooses” the ideal conditions for it to grow and thrive.
That said, if you are on the northern side of the hemisphere, the moss will most likely be on the north side of the trees, but if you are in the southern hemisphere, the moss will most likely be on the southern side of the trees.
How Does the Moss Choose on Which Side to Grow
Now that we have seen that everything you thought you knew about moss might not be true, it is time for me to explain what side of a tree the moss grows on and how it chooses on which side it will grow.
Namely, the main reason moss can not be found only on the northern side of trees everywhere around the globe is that it requires special conditions to survive. The moss can grow best in shady, moist, or humid places, regardless of the particular tree’s or rock’s orientation.
As moss needs water and humidity to survive and, more importantly, to reproduce, it will choose the most optimal conditions regardless of whether that place would be on the northern or the southern side.
That being said, although moss can usually be found on the northern sides of trees or rocks, it does not exclusively grow there.
The southern sides of the trees
To fully debunk this myth, I think it is important to explain why the moss can also be found on the southern sides of the trees.
So, as I have mentioned, the moss will grow anywhere the conditions are right; moist, damp, shady, and dark spots. Take an example from many trees with a lot of moss on the bottom around the ground and no moss on the top of their branches on the same side.
That is because the sun is much stronger on the tree’s upper branches, and the humidity there is significantly lower compared to the bottom part of the tree near the ground, where there is greater humidity and less sunlight.
With this fact in mind, if you find yourself in the southern hemisphere, you will see that the moss on the trees is mainly on the southern side because the shadiest side on the south of the equator is the south side, just like the shadiest side on the north part of the equator is the north side.
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Does Moss Die in the Winter?
If it is winter and you find yourself in nature, it is only understandable to ask whether you can still navigate your way through with the help of the moss, although every other plant is already dead because of the cold, the ice, and the snow.
Well, the good answer is that you can. As moss is one of the most resilient spores, it has a great tolerance for surviving in extremely low temperatures.
With its ability to create a safe habitat in the little cracks on the bark of the trees, it can withstand and fight the cold winter weather very successfully.
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Can Moss Survive on the Sunny Side of the Tree?
After I have explained that the moss can grow on each side of the tree, regardless of whether it is the north or the south, I want to touch upon another common misconception quickly, and that is whether the moss can survive on the southern sides of the trees, or to be more specific, in the sun.
The first thing I want to mention here is that thanks to the moss’s resilience and high tolerance, you can find moss plants on the sunny sides of the trees.
In conditions where it is mostly sunny with minimal humidity, the moss can grow even directly under the sun. Of course, as there are various types of moss, only particular ones can do this, while the others will die off because of the lack of humidity, water, and shade.
Finally, I have mentioned this fact to show you that moss can not always be used and trusted as the ultimate guide and navigator through nature, as it is much more complex than people initially believed.
Therefore, it is always important that besides relying on moss, you always have some additional navigational tool that will direct you in the right way.
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Conclusion
In this article, you could have read what side of a tree does moss grow on and whether you can 100% rely on the moss as your faithful guide through nature.
Moreover, I made sure to include every possible information regarding this topic so that the next time you want to navigate your way in nature solely based on moss, you will be more careful, as this plant can be tricky and grow in various places regarding the orientation.