Cladonia rangiferina, also known as reindeer lichen grows in both hot and cold climates in well-drained, open environments. They are living organisms and are a symbiosis between a fungus and an alga.
Reindeer Moss used in interior decoration is harvested from the Nordic countries. Reindeer Moss is a slow-growing plant that grows by 3-5mm per year. Reindeer Moss is alive at harvest, but later they are simply preserved organisms that maintain their structure.
Other common names include polar moss, reindeer moss, deer moss, and caribou moss, but these names may be misleading since it is not actually moss.