Preserved Moss Types: A Guide to Naturalist's Signature Selection

Exploring Types of Moss

Preserved moss is one of the most versatile and visually striking materials used in biophilic design. At Naturalist, we’ve worked with a variety of mosses over the years, carefully curating our offerings to ensure both beauty and durability. With their rich textures, vibrant colors, and natural appeal, preserved mosses serve as a perfect medium for creating calming, eco-conscious environments in commercial and residential spaces alike. In this post, we’re highlighting the key moss types we feature in our designs: Reindeer Moss, Bun Moss, and Provence Moss. We’ll also touch on Flat Moss and why we’ve moved away from using it in our projects to maintain our high standards for long-lasting, visually impactful installations.

Reindeer Moss

Reindeer Moss, with its soft, cushiony texture and vibrant color range, is a favorite in modern biophilic interiors. It’s actually a type of lichen, rather than a true moss, and is known for its volume and sculptural quality. Reindeer Moss is particularly well-suited for covering large surface areas, offering a bold, tactile element that draws the eye and invites interaction. One of its most appealing features is its ability to be dyed in a wide array of colors. This flexibility makes it highly adaptable to a diverse range of design palettes, from soothing spa environments to high-energy commercial spaces. Its naturally sound-absorbing qualities also make it a practical option for open-plan areas or environments seeking improved acoustics. Because of its ability to retain both color and texture over time, Reindeer Moss continues to be a top choice for wall installations, acoustic panels, and branded feature elements that require both beauty and performance.

Bun Moss

Bun Moss, sometimes referred to as Pole Moss, is a rich, domed moss that brings the essence of a lush forest floor into your project. With its thick, pillow-like tufts and organic structure, it introduces a striking depth and natural texture that transforms static surfaces into living landscapes. This type of moss is often used to create dramatic focal points or to add volume and contrast when paired with flatter moss types. Its three-dimensional appearance makes it ideal for feature walls, signage, or accenting detail work in mixed-moss compositions. Designers and clients alike appreciate Bun Moss for its ability to evoke a sense of wild nature while still offering the maintenance-free convenience of preserved plant life.

Provence Moss

Provence Moss offers a soft, carpet-like appearance and serves as an excellent foundational moss for many of our projects. It has a fine texture and a rich, deep green color that adds cohesion and tranquility to more intricate compositions. Provence Moss is frequently used to create smooth transitions between bolder moss types like Reindeer or Bun Moss, helping to unify the design and fill negative space with subtle elegance. Its low profile and velvety surface make it a go-to for achieving a seamless, calming aesthetic that mimics the feeling of a lush forest floor. In many of our most refined projects, Provence Moss plays a quiet but crucial role in enhancing both the visual and sensory experience.

Flat Moss

Flat Moss is a classic preserved moss that has long been appreciated for its smooth texture and consistent appearance. However, despite its initial appeal, we’ve made the decision to discontinue its use in our offerings due to concerns over longevity and performance in long-term installations. Flat Moss tends to dry out and degrade more quickly than our other selections, leading to inconsistencies in appearance over time. At Naturalist, we pride ourselves on providing products that are not only beautiful but built to last. For that reason, we now focus exclusively on more resilient moss types like Reindeer Moss, Bun Moss, and Provence Moss to ensure each installation remains vibrant and impactful for years to come.

Your Vision, Our Expertise

Whether you're designing a full-scale moss wall, adding biophilic elements to branded environments, or incorporating preserved moss into smaller architectural details, selecting the right materials is essential to a successful project. At Naturalist, we bring a thoughtful and experienced approach to every installation, guiding clients through the process to ensure the best fit for their space and vision. Our curated selection of long-lasting, sustainably sourced mosses allows us to balance form, function, and beauty—bringing nature back into the built environment, one wall at a time.
We collaborate with clients to bring their existing designs to life or create a custom concept from the ground up. Whether you prefer a clean, minimal look or a rich composition featuring multiple moss types, we can craft a fully customized wall tailored to your aesthetic and project goals.