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Spikemosses (Selaginella)
Also known as : Spike-mosses
Spikemosses are vascular plants, meaning they have a special tissue that moves nutrients and water from the roots to the leaves and stems. Spikemosses grows in tropical regions, but some species also thrive in arctic-alpine zones. The plants are recognizable by their scale leaves, and they produce two types of spores. 
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Herb/Vine
Key Facts About Spikemosses
Feedback
Attributes of Spikemosses
Plant Height
30 cm
Spread
50 cm
Leaf type
Evergreen
Ideal Temperature
10 - 35 ℃
Scientific Classification of Spikemosses
Distribution of Spikemosses
Feedback
Distribution Map of Spikemosses
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Spikemosses
Feedback
Spikemosses is a genus of plants best suited for owner's partial to attentive caregiving. Basic care needs typically involve low to medium light, high humidity, and well-draining, organically rich soil. The plant thrives in cooler temperatures, preferably within 60-75°F (15-24 °C). Spikemosses endures challenges related to pests such as aphids and spider mites, susceptibility to root rot due to overwatering, and browning when humidity levels fall. Seasonal considerations include reducing water in winter and ensuring consistent humidity during warmer months.
Exploring the Spikemosses Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Selaginella tamariscina
Selaginella tamariscina is an evergreen fern that grows no more than 15 cm tall. Densely tufted stems and roots form a tiny tree-like trunk. It may be found in humid places in the wild, and people have also tried to cultivate some varieties with unique foliage colors and planted in the garden or as potted plants.
Peacock moss
Peacock moss is not really a moss at all, but more closely related to a fern. Also called Peacock Spike Moss and Selaginella uncinata, this plant works well as a ground cover in southern states but will grow just fine as a container plant, as well.
Krauss's clubmoss
Krauss's clubmoss is an evergreen perennial. In warmer areas, it can be grown as a ground cover with its dense mats of fern-like leaves. In cooler areas, it makes an excellent houseplant. This plant originated in Africa and the Azores.
Gemmiferous spikemoss
Gemmiferous spikemoss is a small, ancient fern ally with a sprawling habit and delicate, feathery fronds that resemble moss. It thrives in humid, shaded environments, often forming lush, green carpets on the forest floor. Its preference for moisture and shade is a testament to its evolutionary adaptation to understory habitats. The fern-like appearance of gemmiferous spikemoss, along with its unique reproductive structures, distinguishes it from true mosses, marking it as a fascinating specimen in both gardens and natural settings.
Flower of Stone
Flower of Stone (*Selaginella lepidophylla*) is a moss-like perennial best known for its ability to curl its branches in during drought-like conditions and then open up immediately when watered. It has been called the resurrection plant. It has delicate emerald green fronds and is an excellent choice for terrariums, pots and sheltered outdoor locations. For best growth, water it frequently, especially during summer.
Arborvitae fern
It is an evergreen perennial growing to 45 cm in height.
Mediterranean clubmoss
Mediterranean clubmoss is a rare creeping plant that is listed as 'threatened' in Malta where it is native. The plant's Latin epithet denticulata was given due to the intricate denticles on the plant's leaves. This also explains the plant's common name, Toothed-leaved clubmoss.
Northern selaginella
Northern selaginella (Selaginella rupestris) is a moss found in eastern North America. It grows along relatively dry rocky places. If the conditions are dry, it curls up into a ball shape that has also earned it the name bird's nest moss. When moistened again, the moss unfurls.
All Species of Spikemosses
Selaginella tamariscina
Selaginella tamariscina
Selaginella tamariscina is an evergreen fern that grows no more than 15 cm tall. Densely tufted stems and roots form a tiny tree-like trunk. It may be found in humid places in the wild, and people have also tried to cultivate some varieties with unique foliage colors and planted in the garden or as potted plants.
Peacock moss
Peacock moss
Peacock moss is not really a moss at all, but more closely related to a fern. Also called Peacock Spike Moss and Selaginella uncinata, this plant works well as a ground cover in southern states but will grow just fine as a container plant, as well.
Krauss's clubmoss
Krauss's clubmoss
Krauss's clubmoss is an evergreen perennial. In warmer areas, it can be grown as a ground cover with its dense mats of fern-like leaves. In cooler areas, it makes an excellent houseplant. This plant originated in Africa and the Azores.
Gemmiferous spikemoss
Gemmiferous spikemoss
Gemmiferous spikemoss is a small, ancient fern ally with a sprawling habit and delicate, feathery fronds that resemble moss. It thrives in humid, shaded environments, often forming lush, green carpets on the forest floor. Its preference for moisture and shade is a testament to its evolutionary adaptation to understory habitats. The fern-like appearance of gemmiferous spikemoss, along with its unique reproductive structures, distinguishes it from true mosses, marking it as a fascinating specimen in both gardens and natural settings.
Flower of Stone
Flower of Stone
Flower of Stone (*Selaginella lepidophylla*) is a moss-like perennial best known for its ability to curl its branches in during drought-like conditions and then open up immediately when watered. It has been called the resurrection plant. It has delicate emerald green fronds and is an excellent choice for terrariums, pots and sheltered outdoor locations. For best growth, water it frequently, especially during summer.
Arborvitae fern
Arborvitae fern
It is an evergreen perennial growing to 45 cm in height.
Mediterranean clubmoss
Mediterranean clubmoss
Mediterranean clubmoss is a rare creeping plant that is listed as 'threatened' in Malta where it is native. The plant's Latin epithet denticulata was given due to the intricate denticles on the plant's leaves. This also explains the plant's common name, Toothed-leaved clubmoss.
Northern selaginella
Northern selaginella
Northern selaginella (Selaginella rupestris) is a moss found in eastern North America. It grows along relatively dry rocky places. If the conditions are dry, it curls up into a ball shape that has also earned it the name bird's nest moss. When moistened again, the moss unfurls.
Willdenow's spikemoss
Willdenow's spikemoss
The segmented leaves of willdenow's spikemoss (Selaginella willdenowii) might make it look like a fern, but it isn't; it's actually known as a fern ally. This is a popular garden plant because its blue-green leaves are iridescent, reflecting light in a variety of colors. This iridescence is thought to be a way of diffusing direct sunlight that would otherwise damage the plant since it is a shade-loving forest floor dweller.
Selaginella stauntoniana
Selaginella stauntoniana
Selaginella stauntoniana is a fascinating fern ally, sporting a unique, vertical growth habit with feathery, light green fronds that tend to overlap in a dense mat. Adapting to moist, shady environments, selaginella stauntoniana thrives on forest floors, drawing nutrients from decomposing organic matter. It's a desiccation-tolerant species, able to resume growth quickly after dry periods.
Doederlein's spikemoss
Doederlein's spikemoss
Doederlein's spikemoss is a luscious, ground-hugging fern ally with a striking, feathery appearance. Its fine, elongated fronds create a soft, evergreen carpet, thriving in shaded, humid environments. Adapted for moisture retention, doederlein's spikemoss's delicate leaves curl inward during dry periods, protecting itself and marking a unique survival strategy. This species dazzles, especially when its iridescent foliage catches the light, making it a gem in terrariums and shady garden nooks.
Braun's spikemoss
Braun's spikemoss
Braun's spikemoss thrives in the shady undergrowth of tropical forests, displaying its lush, fern-like foliage. The plant exhibits a distinctive creeping growth habit, with branching stems and small, scale-like leaves arranged in a dense, feathery pattern, creating a soft, iridescent carpet of green. Its ability to retain water in arid conditions adds to its resilience and ornamental appeal.
Krauss's clubmoss 'Brownii'
Krauss's clubmoss 'Brownii'
Krauss's clubmoss 'Brownii' is a mat-forming plant bred from the club moss. Its popular uses include indoors as a houseplant or outdoors as ground cover. It forms a unique cushion of velvety foliage with bright green leaves and has won an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
More Popular Genus
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Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Spikemosses
Selaginella
Also known as: Spike-mosses
Spikemosses are vascular plants, meaning they have a special tissue that moves nutrients and water from the roots to the leaves and stems. Spikemosses grows in tropical regions, but some species also thrive in arctic-alpine zones. The plants are recognizable by their scale leaves, and they produce two types of spores.
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Herb/Vine
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Key Facts About Spikemosses
Feedback
Attributes of Spikemosses
Plant Height
30 cm
Spread
50 cm
Leaf type
Evergreen
Ideal Temperature
10 - 35 ℃
Scientific Classification of Spikemosses
Distribution of Spikemosses
Feedback
Distribution Map of Spikemosses
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Spikemosses
Feedback
Spikemosses is a genus of plants best suited for owner's partial to attentive caregiving. Basic care needs typically involve low to medium light, high humidity, and well-draining, organically rich soil. The plant thrives in cooler temperatures, preferably within 60-75°F (15-24 °C). Spikemosses endures challenges related to pests such as aphids and spider mites, susceptibility to root rot due to overwatering, and browning when humidity levels fall. Seasonal considerations include reducing water in winter and ensuring consistent humidity during warmer months.
Exploring the Spikemosses Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Selaginella tamariscina
Selaginella tamariscina is an evergreen fern that grows no more than 15 cm tall. Densely tufted stems and roots form a tiny tree-like trunk. It may be found in humid places in the wild, and people have also tried to cultivate some varieties with unique foliage colors and planted in the garden or as potted plants.
Peacock moss
Peacock moss is not really a moss at all, but more closely related to a fern. Also called Peacock Spike Moss and Selaginella uncinata, this plant works well as a ground cover in southern states but will grow just fine as a container plant, as well.
Krauss's clubmoss
Krauss's clubmoss is an evergreen perennial. In warmer areas, it can be grown as a ground cover with its dense mats of fern-like leaves. In cooler areas, it makes an excellent houseplant. This plant originated in Africa and the Azores.
Gemmiferous spikemoss
Gemmiferous spikemoss is a small, ancient fern ally with a sprawling habit and delicate, feathery fronds that resemble moss. It thrives in humid, shaded environments, often forming lush, green carpets on the forest floor. Its preference for moisture and shade is a testament to its evolutionary adaptation to understory habitats. The fern-like appearance of gemmiferous spikemoss, along with its unique reproductive structures, distinguishes it from true mosses, marking it as a fascinating specimen in both gardens and natural settings.
Show More Species
All Species of Spikemosses
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
