Spanish Moss

Tendril of Spanish Moss

Fun Fact 1 - Spanish Moss is neither Spanish nor moss.

I don’t know how many times we heard this over the course of our trip. A guide or ranger told us this on practically every single tour or guided walk we were on.  

Spanish Moss is a actually a bromeliad (all the guides said it is related to the pineapple), and native to the Americas.

Fun Fact 2 - Spanish Moss prompted the first automotive recall.

Henry Ford stuffed the seats of his first Model T's with Spanish moss. He had to do a recall when it turned out that little red bugs called chiggers live in Spanish Moss and were biting drivers on their rear ends.

We heard this numerous times over our trip as well. Not sure if is actually true or just a good story to tell tourists. It is more likely that chiggers are found in moss that has fallen to the ground than what is up in the trees.

Fun Fact 3 - The Spanish Moss Trail is a rails-to-trails bike path in Beaufort County, SC.  

Many trees along the way are draped with, you guessed it -Spanish Moss.