You gotta be pluffin’ me!

Did you know that pluff mud gets its name from the original spelling “plough” mud. It was used during the 1800’s as a fertilizer that was plowed in with the sediment across agricultural fields. Plough was an old spelling of plow and some sources claim that the “gh” was then substituted with “ff”. Other sources claim that pluff mud is named for the sound it makes when you step in the mud. (We think two things can be true at the same time!) Pluff mud forms when decaying plants and organisms break down in slow-moving, oxygen depleted water. The color varies from a dark beigey brown to a DARK blue/-black color (our personal favorite for mud staches!).

Pluff mud might seem like just a squishy, stinky mess under your feet—but it’s actually one of the building blocks of a salt marsh ecosystem in the Lowcountry! This rich, dark mud is packed with nutrients and organic matter that support a wide variety of wildlife, from crabs and snails to fish and wading birds. One of its other jobs is to absorb water! Layers and layers of mud help absorb water like a sponge and this helps to lessen tidal flooding. It’s also a natural filter, helping to trap pollutants and cycle nutrients through the marsh. Without pluff mud, many coastal creatures would lose their food sources, nurseries, and habitat. Some say it’s stinky and some say the smell reminds them of home!