Probably not, Quirkpod - furthest north I've seen it is the New Bern area. Here's a copy of general info from EmilyCompost.com - am sure there's more on the web. It is fascinating!

Tillandsia usneoide
(til-AND-see-a)
Spanish Moss or Air Plant
BROMELIACEAE

This is an epiphytic perennial. It has branching, rootless, wiry stems. Gray, fuzzy, hairlike leaves about 1/8 inch thick.

It will flower all year from blue to violet.

Grows in zones 9 - 11 in trees, gutters, fences, and poles.

Although the common rumor has it as a parasite, this is not true. They attach themselves to trees for support but take no nourishment from their hosts. The most damage they can do is to cause the branch to be weak from the accumulated weight during a heavy rainfall or storm. They get nutrients from leaves, dead bark, even dust particles.

Beware although it is a dreamy part of the south, chiggers are plentiful in the mosses.

Often this material, after being cleaned and sterilized, is used in hanging baskets and for topping off potted plants. It mulches well and is used in planting to retain moisture.

Our Native American Indians in the south wove dresses out of the plant material.

To enjoy the south is to view its hanging Spanish Moss.

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Some questions from Emily's mailbox:

Q: I was wondering if you could tell me how to rid Spanish Moss of any bugs or chiggers? I'm nurturing a baby squirrel and would like to use it in its nest.

A: Spanish moss indeed does have some bugs and chiggers to be wary of.

I would lightly wash and rinse the Spanish moss with soap and water. Then, sunshine dry. This is a nice solar action that will sterilize the Spanish moss to some degree.

I do not suggest you use the washer or dryer and stay away form the microwave.

This is something you just do not want to bring into the house.

What a nice thought to use if for squirrel nesting. Squirrels probably carry some insects, fleas or mites themselves so do not be surprised to find them.

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Thanks, that was helpful except for a miss-spelling that gave me a dead end in my search. If you put an S on the end, you'll have the botanical name correct. Then I did a search on the internet for Tillandsia usneoides and got results showing it is being sold at Ebay! Can you believe it is grown as a houseplant afterall? WOW, this is going to be a nice houseplant! I need to check it out at the houseplants forum.

Robin, attached is an on-going thread on this subject in the Southern Coastal forum. You'll find it interesting.

It is not commonly grown as a house plant...don't think I've ever seen it mentioned in that forum. You'll need to provide a special environment as it isn't as easy to grow as many other bromiliads, including other Tillandsia.

Here is a link that might be useful: Spanish Moss....transplanting

I usually have a clump or two around here in Raleigh (brought back from the beach). It has never survived the winter for me. I have been able to keep it alive on/or around a cluster of houseplants but it did not thrive. I don't think indoor air is humid enough. I've also placed some in a large terrerium I have only to have it sit there for years and never grow. This year I have some vacationing in the hoop house and I hope to drape it in the oak branches along the pathway leading to the back yard next spring.

Because there is always the exception...there is an insurance agency in Pendleton, SC (Upstate) that has a LOT growing on what I believe is a Crape Myrtle. I'm not sure how long it has been there because I only really started noticing it about this time last year (and we did have a really mild Winter other than the ice storm)but it looks "established"...not like it was just draped over the branches. It is also very close to the building and sheltered by some bigger oak trees.

Yes, for upperstate South Carolina. For about the past five years I always bring moss from Charleston and put in the oak trees in the yard. The birds love this for nest material. One of my neighbors came over and said she didn't want me to think she was stealing moss. The birds had built a huge nest in the top of her oak tree. Since then it has spread like crazy in her tree. Last summer I brought back another load of moss from Charleston, and it was so interesting watching the birds build their nest. It is in our yard very high in the oak tree. We are waiting to see if this spreads as much as my neighbors.

For the short term, perhaps--I have had some tied in river birch trees that has survived for at least the past five months or so. However, between the cold and the relative humidity in winter, it may struggle. Last winter was so mild that it probably could have made it outside, but if you get a significant icing event (where the trichomes are frozen open) or a severe freeze, it could be in jeopardy. It likes high humidity, so ideally it would need to be near a body of water or at least misted occasionally. The other problem is the birds--if you don't bolt it down, they'll fly away with it during nesting season . . .

Yes quirkpod, you can grow Spanish moss in this area.
I live in Kernersville.

Many years ago (when I was a child) I stop on the way back from the beach and got a box of spanish moss (got ate up by bugs on the way home). I put some in a holly tree next to my house and it stayed in that tree a few years ( I not sure how long (I was a child and time passed slow for childen)). I think the main thing that happen to it was birds getting it and maybe other childeren takeing some.

Don't know why it didn't live for trianglejohn because it is colder here.

In the back of my mind I been thinking about getting truck loads and put the Spanish moss on tree in a swamp area (and set up a system to try to keep the air moist). Then the front of my mind tells me that it cost way too much.

There is a lot of talk on one of these forms about growing spanish moss. I forgot which one, maybe it is the one on growing moss.

I have also saw a map on the net showing place where people have saw spanish moss growing and some are at least as cold as Lewisville NC.

As I said mine hung around for a few years(I almost sure) but it was not enought to look good. It would turn green after rains. I would also spry with water hose once and a while.

Spanish moss is cold hardy to about 5 degrees F and requires a high humidity to grow well. At the northern fringes of its range in the Carolinas, it is confined to the lower branches of the trees and shrubs growing along waterways. In my yard, I have it growing in the branches of a small bald cypress growing in one of my garden ponds.

I have had some success getting spanish moss to survive in Northern Middle TN. I left some outside last winter, and it did fine. We did have a mild winter though, but you can bring it inside to a garage or basement so it doesn't come out of dormancy. I set it back ouside on trees after the really cold air passes. The post before me gives you a good idea of how cold the moss can survive to. I had no problem with the moss getting through days with highs in the thirtys and lows in the teens.

See Mike in MarrietaÂs Comments.

In addition to temperature, Sp.moss likes high humidity - condensation every night. Also, you'll have to try a lot of it, as the birds will use it for nesting.

I can get around the nesting issue by bringing it inside. You know to do this when the buds start to pop on a Sugar or Black Maple. When the first leaves that came out are just about to full size this when I set my Spanish Moss Back outside. Sounds
weird, but it works for me.

I would love to get some Spanish Moss growing here in my trees in NE Tennessee (zone 6b-7a), but I doubt it would survive for a long time, but that post about it surviving in N. middle TN sounds promising. We have not been below 5° for many years. Getting below 10° is rare here. I think I could try some as well and if I know its going to be extremely unusually cold (like the point of damage), I could bring it in. I have a 5 ft. Baldcypress that I think would like the moss. I will keep you updated!

BTW- when we were in Lancaster, SC last summer (just south of Charlotte), I saw a tree FULL of Spanish Moss. I was surprised, as I did not expect to see it that far north. There were also some large Palm trees, which was not as surprising, as I have some large palms here in northeast Tennessee.... hardy ones, but never the less... palms... something I would have never thought of before here in TN.

There's a crape myrtle on 210 that has Spanish moss growing in it for several years now. I assume it's real, I don't know why anyone would put fake Spanish moss in a crape myrtle.

I have some growing in Rockymount NC and it has done really well and has even bloomed. The furthest North ove seen it is in Virginia Beach.

I live in southwest Craven County & my Spanish moss has grown to the point that bringing it in for the winter is not feasible. Could I put tarp through it's tree to protect it from the cold?