Common Liverwort
Marchantia polymorpha
Also listed as Jungermannia polymorpha, Marchantia aquatica
Also known as Umbrella Liverwort, Green-tongue Liverwort
Climate Match for your location
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A tiny, non-vascular bryophyte that forms flat, lobed green thalli on damp soil and rocks. Commonly found in moist, shaded environments and often considered a garden weed, though valued in terraria and moss gardens.
Why grow it
Common liverwort spreads readily in consistently moist conditions where vascular plants struggle to establish, making it useful for colonizing bare patches in terraria, shade gardens, and around water features. Unlike many mosses, it produces both sexual and asexual reproductive structures, allowing observation of bryophyte life cycles. It requires minimal intervention once established in suitable microclimates, distinguishing it from fussier ornamental ground covers.
Watch out for
Liverwort can spread aggressively in poorly draining containers or garden beds, potentially outcompeting intentional plantings. Its preference for high humidity and shade limits its utility in dry or sunny sites. If controlling its spread becomes necessary, manual removal or adjusting moisture levels works better than most chemical interventions, which may harm desirable neighboring plants.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Marchantiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Cosmopolitan
Native to: Alabama, California, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A tiny, non-vascular bryophyte that forms flat, lobed green thalli on damp soil and rocks. Commonly found in moist, shaded environments and often considered a garden weed, though valued in terraria and moss gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Common Liverwort grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Common liverwort spreads readily in consistently moist conditions where vascular plants struggle to establish, making it useful for colonizing bare patches in terraria, shade gardens, and around water features. Unlike many mosses, it produces both sexual and asexual reproductive structures, allowing observation of bryophyte life cycles. It requires minimal intervention once established in suitable microclimates, distinguishing it from fussier ornamental ground covers.
Watch out for
Liverwort can spread aggressively in poorly draining containers or garden beds, potentially outcompeting intentional plantings. Its preference for high humidity and shade limits its utility in dry or sunny sites. If controlling its spread becomes necessary, manual removal or adjusting moisture levels works better than most chemical interventions, which may harm desirable neighboring plants.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Marchantiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Cosmopolitan
Native to: Alabama, California, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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