Plant Profile: Selaginella kraussiana

Taxonomy: Selaginella kraussiana

Names

Club Moss, Cushion Moss, Irish Moss, Japanese Moss, Krauss' Spikemoss, Moss Fern, Spikemoss, Spreading Club Moss, Trailing Irish Moss, Tropical Moss

  • Photo of Selaginella kraussiana (Selaginella kraussianas)

Phonetic Spelling:sell-lah-gi-NEL-uh krau-see-AY-nuh

Genus:Selaginella

Species:kraussiana

Family:Selaginellaceae

Spikemoss, a relative of true ferns, is a low-growing vascular plant that forms dense mats. It thrives in shaded areas with rich, moist to wet soil. This versatile plant is ideal for use as a houseplant, in containers, or within terrariums. Its thick matting makes it a suitable alternative to traditional lawns, and it can also enhance shaded rock or woodland gardens. Spikemoss can withstand light foot traffic and is resistant to rabbits. To propagate, you can divide the plant or root stem cuttings in damp soil.

Selaginella kraussiana Feature Summary

Selaginella kraussiana Image Gallery

Tags

#houseplant
#shade garden
#lawn alternative
#chartreuse
#rabbit resistant
#fast growing
#terrarium
#foot traffic tolerant
#Christmas decorations
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats
#container plants

Similar Plants

Selaginella kraussiana Feature Summary

Attributes
Whole Plant Traits
Houseplant
Ground Cover
Dense
Spreading
Creeping
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Clay
High Organic Matter
Leaves
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Landscape
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Mass Planting
Accent
Rabbits
Foot Traffic
Heavy Shade
Container
Woodland
Lawn
Rock Wall
Houseplants
Pool/Hardscape

Selaginella kraussiana Attributes

Selaginella kraussiana: Country Or Region Of Origin

Macronesia, Africa

Selaginella kraussiana: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Selaginella kraussiana: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Selaginella kraussiana Whole Plant Traits

Selaginella kraussiana: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Selaginella kraussiana: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Selaginella kraussiana: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Selaginella kraussiana: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Selaginella kraussiana: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Selaginella kraussiana Cultural Conditions

Selaginella kraussiana: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Selaginella kraussiana: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Selaginella kraussiana: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Selaginella kraussiana Leaves

Selaginella kraussiana: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Selaginella kraussiana: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Selaginella kraussiana: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Selaginella kraussiana Stem

Selaginella kraussiana: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Selaginella kraussiana Landscape

Selaginella kraussiana: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Selaginella kraussiana: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Selaginella kraussiana: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Selaginella kraussiana: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland