Sagina subulata
Scottish moss, Scottish Moss
(c) Michael D. Pirie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael D. Pirie · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Sagina subulata (Scottish moss) is a non-native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by limited data as waif species with undocumented habitat.
Scottish moss is a naturalized perennial herb found in the San Francisco area, with specific habitat details undocumented for California. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces small white flowers on thread-like pedicels up to 11 millimeters long. Growing with slender ascending or decumbent stems 3 to 12 centimeters tall, it forms dense sterile basal rosettes that create a low-growing mat. Its leaves are narrowly linear, measuring 3 to 12 millimeters long and appearing delicate and sparse along the stem. The plant typically produces five-petaled flowers with accompanying five sepals, creating a delicate and compact botanical structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; limited data as waif species with undocumented habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Habitats undocumented for California
Elevation: elevations undocumented for California
Outside California: Oregon, native to Europe
Bloom period
Sagina subulata blooms Jul-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Erigeron: Sagina forms moss-like mats with thread leaves; Erigeron has narrow but broader leaves and daisy-like flowers.; vs Sabulina: Sagina has extremely thread-like leaves forming dense mats; Sabulina has slightly wider, less moss-like leaves.; vs Soliva: Sagina forms green moss-like mats with tiny white flowers; Soliva forms flattened rosettes with no petals.; vs Spergula: Sagina has thread-like leaves in pairs; Spergula has leaves in whorls around the stem.; vs Holosteum: Sagina has tiny scattered flowers in loose clusters; Holosteum has umbrella-shaped flower clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sagina subulata native to California?
No. Sagina subulata is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Sagina subulata bloom?
Sagina subulata blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Sagina subulata belong to?
Sagina subulata is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Sagina.
What habitat does Sagina subulata grow in?
Sagina subulata grows in Habitats undocumented for California.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Sagina apetala — Dwarf pearlwort
- Sagina decumbens subsp. occidentalis — Western pearlwort
- Sagina maxima subsp. crassicaulis — Thick-stemmed pearlwort
- Sagina procumbens — Matted pearlwort
- Sagina saginoides — Arctic pearlwort
- Sagina sp. — Pearlwort
- Saponaria officinalis — Bouncing bet
- Saponaria sp. — Soapwort
- Scleranthus annuus subsp. annuus — Knawel
- Scleranthus sp.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.