Haircap mossis a general cosmopolitan species common to dry heath.
It is exceptionally resistant to desiccation and high temperatures. Its long, glassy hairs help the plant absorb water. In humid weather, the leaves point out and in dry weather they fold around the stem. This adjustment helps the plant survive temperatures of up to 70 °C.
When the landscape gradually shifts from drift sand to a more vegetated area, haircap mossis one of the first organisms to grow. At the end of winter, the plant will have developed bright red caps. This transforms the drift sand into a beautiful sea of red.