Spanish moss

noun

: an epiphytic plant (Tillandsia usneoides) of the pineapple family forming pendent tufts of grayish-green filaments on trees from the southern U.S. to Argentina

Illustration of Spanish moss

Examples of Spanish moss in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Live oaks draped in Spanish moss hover above Victorian sculptures and timeworn tombstones belonging to famous figures such as John Muir. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2026

Along the way, captains point out everything from Rollins College and Kraft Azalea Garden to historic estates tucked beneath towering cypress trees and canopies of Spanish moss. — Amber Love Bond, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2026

On a historic square in Savannah, with live oaks cloaked in Spanish moss, Aaron Whitley, the Chatham County Democratic Party chair, says Ossoff has managed to transcend those fissures better than most. — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026

Towering live oaks draped with Spanish moss lined the neighborhood, casting long shadows across the pavement as the sun began to set. — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Spanish moss

• albatross
• applesauce
• barabbas
• helios
• kshatriyas
• menelaus
• across
• backcross
• crisscross
• lacrosse
• recross
• tomas

Kids Definition

Spanish moss

noun

: a plant related to the pineapple that forms hanging tufts of grayish green threadlike strands on trees from the southern U.S. to Argentina