This member of the Sphagna is one of the less demanding in its substrate requirements and is found in a variety of habitats ranging in Wales from the drier parts of raised bogs to wet woodlands, and in marshes, fens, and flushes. It can also vary considerably in its colour with various shades of red, green and even brown occurring. It can be confused with Sphagnum capillifolium which is similar in size and colouration, though in S. subnitens the red colouration tends to be concentrated on the edge of the capitulum ("head") of the plant, whilst in S.capillifolium the red is concentrated at the centre.