Peacock Moss Selaginella uncinata
- Phonetic Spelling
- sel-ah-gih-NEL-ah un-sin-AY-tah
- Description
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Peacock Moss is native to southern China and is the sole genus of vascular plants in the family Selaginellaceae. Its common name is derived from its iridescent blue foliage, which can be more pronounced under minimal lighting.
A plant with fern-like foliage that is classified as a moss due to its low growing, spreading habit.
Plant it in shady nooks of the garden, containers, or hanging baskets or in a terrarium. A low, diminutive spreading groundcover with blue-green leaves commonly grown in greenhouses, nurseries, and areas along the Gulf Coast.
Propagation can be easily accomplished by division and stem cuttings. Rooting from the tips of the foliage allows for easy division.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Locating in direct sunlight can scorch the foliage. Slugs can be a problem.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Selaginella
- Species:
- uncinata
- Family:
- Selaginellaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Shade
- Textural
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Houseplant
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Dense
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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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
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Delicate, blue-green iridescent leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Humidity
- Rabbits
