A Practical Guide To Using Moss in Floristry
Hello, it’s Helen from Evolve Flowers and British Flowers Direct, and today I wanted to give you a quick product focus on something we get asked about all the time: moss.
It’s one of those unsung heroes of floristry: practical, sustainable, and surprisingly therapeutic to work with.
Two bag sizes, two different jobs
Our moss comes in two different bag sizes, each designed for a specific purpose.
-
Topping Moss
This is the smaller bag, and it’s lovely and clean, with far fewer twigs and debris. It’s ideal for finishing touches — topping containers, disguising mechanics in arrangements, or using to create sustainable designs where you want a neat, polished look.
We’re filming this in early September, and at this time of year, it’s perfect for autumn work, seasonal designs and creating sympathy tributes. We supply moss all year round to the tune of over nine metric tonnes - about the same as 1 and a half African Elephants or a fully loaded bus!! Most of this gets sent out to our customers during wreath making season which is why we are busting out of the packhouse during November!!
Search topping moss -
Wreath Making Moss
The larger black bag is your go-to for wreaths and bigger projects. This is where things get a bit more immersive — many people describe working with it as a bit like forest bathing. In our workshops, everyone comments on how relaxing it is to get hands-on with the moss. Get in touch with nature from indoors!
Search wreath-making moss
Is moss sustainable?
This is probably the most common question we get, and the short answer is yes.
Moss has been around since the time of the dinosaurs and regenerates very quickly. Ours is sustainably sourced from Norfolk, collected from a range of woodlands by the same family-run team who have been harvesting it for around 25 years. If it wasn’t sustainable, they’d have run out a long time ago.
The moss is lush and green, even after a hot August heatwave. You may find the occasional drier patch underneath; that’s completely natural. This is sphagnum moss, and while you might occasionally spot a pine cone or the odd little bug, that’s just part of working with a natural product.🌿 Moss is a bryophyte – one of the oldest plant groups on Earth, thriving for over 400 million years
💧 No roots, no flowers, no seeds – moss absorbs water and nutrients directly from the air and rain
🌍 Minimal resource needs – grows without fertilisers, pesticides, or irrigation
🌱 Carbon-friendly – mosses store carbon and play a role in long-term carbon capture in ecosystems
💦 Natural water regulator – can hold up to 20 times its own weight in water, reducing runoff and erosion
🌬️ Air quality helper – absorbs airborne pollutants and fine particles
🪴 Grows on little – thrives on rocks, wood, soil, and roofs, requiring no cultivated land
♻️ Fully biodegradable – returns naturally to the soil at the end of life
🕰️ Slow, steady growth – encourages mindful, seasonal harvesting rather than intensive farming
🌍 Supports biodiversity – provides habitat for insects, microorganisms, and fungi
🧘 Timeless and resilient – a living example of low-impact, regenerative design
How To Store Moss
We keep the moss cool and dark, which is why it comes in a black bag and is stored in the fridge when it's warmer weather. When it arrives, it’s fairly dry — exactly how it should be.
How to soak moss
If you need to moisten your moss, it’s very simple.
Just pop it into a bucket of water and let it soak. You’ll see a dramatic difference almost immediately. Dry moss will plump up beautifully once hydrated and can hold a surprising amount of water.
This is exactly why moss has been used for decades in eco-floristry and sustainable floristry. It’s also brilliant for designs like sustainable funeral tributes, where water retention really matters.
How many wreaths can you get from one bag?
Another frequent question, and the honest answer is: it depends.
It depends on:
-
The size of your wreath
-
How densely you apply the moss
-
Whether you prefer a packed, thick finish or a lighter, airier look
As a general guide, you can expect to get around 10 wreaths from one bag when working on 12-inch bases. The moss is naturally hand-gathered, so it rather depends on the harvester. As moss is available all year round, you can test at any time you wish. Click to see our moss collection.
Watch the full video with me here: