We quantified annual growth rate and loss of Bryoria capillaris and Usnea dasopoga transplants on Picea abies on parts of lower branches in the inner versus outer canopy in small, medium and tall trees in hemiboreal forests. Light at branches in the inner canopy was 2.7 x (for Bryoria capillaris) and 2.0 x (for Usnea dasopoga) higher than the lichens’ respective light compensation points, 10.7 ± 1.2 and 14.5 ± 2.2 μmol m−2 s−1, respectively. Many Bryoria thalli were lost/fragmented on sheltered inner branches of small and intermediate trees, not on outer canopy branches exposed to wind, rain and snow. Hardly any loss occurred for Usnea. After excluding lost/fragmented specimens, Bryoria that remained intact grew faster (43.1 ± 4.4%) than Usnea (29.8 ± 1.4%). Outer canopy branches supported higher growth rates in Usnea (35.6 ± 1.5%) than inner branches (23.5 ± 2.1%), consistent with its association with rainy areas, whereas Bryoria that avoided loss grew fast in both branch locations. Bryoria, lower in secondary carbon-based compounds than Usnea, and thus the more palatable species, was likely grazed on inner branches and smaller trees accessible to rodents.