Irish Moss Selaginella kraussiana
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Irish Moss:
Previously known as:
- Selaginella azorica
- Selaginella canescens
- Phonetic Spelling
- sell-lah-gi-NEL-uh krau-see-AY-nuh
- Description
-
Spikemoss is a cousin to the true ferns, a low growing, mat-forming vascular plant. Plant it in the shade in rich, moist to wet soils. It makes a great houseplant, container plant, or used in terrariums. The dense mat it forms makes it an option as a lawn alternative or use it in a rock or woodland garden that gets shade. It tolerates light foot traffic and is resistant to rabbit browsing. Propagate it by division or rooting stem cuttings in damp soil.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aurea'
Chartreuse with golden leaf tips - 'Variegata'
White tips, popular Christmas plant
- 'Aurea'
- 'Aurea', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aurea'
Chartreuse with golden leaf tips - 'Variegata'
White tips, popular Christmas plant
- 'Aurea'
- 'Aurea', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Selaginella
- Species:
- kraussiana
- Family:
- Selaginellaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Macronesia, Africa
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 4 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Houseplant
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Dense
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Hairs Present:
- No
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Lawn
- Pool/Hardscape
- Rock Wall
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Foot Traffic
- Heavy Shade
- Rabbits