Question
Hi Tom, I saw an answer by you about Irish Moss on 8/7/2007 related to hot weather.

My local Home Depot was selling this plant and we bought 32 of them and planted them. We live in Central Florida about fifteen minutes from Disney World. We planted them in April and as soon as the temperatures got to about 90 they started to have the appearance of dying. My question is, will these come back in the fall as they do look completely dead right now. We are also just getting into our summer season where it is common to have 95 degrees heat every day. These plants are not shaded.

Thank you, John

Answer
Hi John,
thanx for your question.  My brother lives in Deltona and I am down there a lot.

Nurseries continue to sell stuff to people that really isn't appropriate for the area.  Zone 9 is about the limit of S. subulata.  It's just too hot.  It needs to be in a shaded area under these conditions and yes, it's going to get brown and look dead.  It may come back in the fall when it gets cooler and it may not.  It is not drought tolerant at all.  This stuff comes from Ireland and Scotland where there is constant moisture and cooler temperatures although Ireland can be pretty temperate.  If the plants are not shaded, I don't have high hopes for much success.  I hope this helps.
Tom