There are about 700 species of selaginella, a unique prehistoric fern relative. Native to variable climates from tropical to dry and from sun to shade; the genus Selaginella is truly a diverse group. We offer some of the easy-to-grow perennial woodland selaginella species. Selaginella plants are great as groundcovers near hostas, Solomon's seal, and other bold-foliaged perennials.
Read More
Selaginella leaves are soft to the touch and low growing...a great groundcover filler for the woodland garden, pathway or shaded container. Some selaginella species are very drought-tolerant but others like marshy spots. The drought tolerant selaginella species may even turn brown and curl up during a drought, but will rehydrate with no problems once rain finally arrives. When you're ready to buy selaginella for your shade perennial garden, check out our online offering of selaginella for sale below.
Since 1988, Plant Delights Nursery has been the choice of serious gardeners and plant collectors looking for the best and rarest perennial plants. We are pleased to have received the Perennial Plant Association Retail Award in 2011, the American Horticulture Society Commercial Award in 2002, and to have been selected as one of the Best Mail Order Plant Sources - Garden Design Magazine 2010. Welcome to our family of plant lovers!
We're becoming known for selling esoteric plants, so here's another one. Selaginella apoda is one of those native plants that just doesn't get any respect. Although it can be found in moist meadows and stream banks from Rhode Island south to Florida, it has no flowers, no leaves, and not much in the way of roots...could be a problem...hmm. Selaginella apoda makes a very low-growing groundcover that resembles a discarded mass of mangled green pipe-cleaners and is best planted in moist, evenly marshy soils. If you want one, buy it this year since I doubt it will be economical to offer it again and you won't find it at Wal-Mart. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(syn: Selaginella pallescens or incorrectly, Selaginella caulescens and Selaginella involvens) This selaginella (fern relative) is one of the easiest to grow in a woodland setting. The dark green, lacy, semi-evergreen fronds rise to 18" tall from a slowly creeping rhizome. In 3 years you could expect a 2' wide mass. A grouping of these in a woodland setting is indeed spectacular! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This easy-to-grow small Chinese species has proven to be a reliable performer in our garden as well as a favorite with visitors. Each clump makes a 5" tall x 1' wide mound. In climates with milder winters, the height can exceed 1'. The ferny green foliage takes on a delightful russet color in winter. Each frond bears tiny plantlets (your new word for the day is "gemmiferous") that drop off and form new colonies where they land...great for a difficult site in the woodland garden! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
In 2000, we first saw the native Peruvian spikemoss in the arid Texas Hill Country. In our full-sun rock garden, it has formed a lovely 1" tall x 2' wide evergreen patch resembling a moldy pile of chewin' tobacco spit. Although heat- and drought-tolerant, it will curl up and turn brown if it gets too dry, only to re-hydrate when rain or irrigation arrives. We find it strange that very few gardeners grow our great native selaginellas, so we're out to change that...wish us luck. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Selaginella sanguinolenta var. compressa has long been our favorite dry rock garden selaginella, but it has taken nearly a decade to build up enough stock to offer. Our parent plant is 12 years old and only 2" tall x 10" wide. In foliage, twiggy spikemoss resembles a clump of moss that was plugged into a high voltage electrical outlet. Come to think of it, it also looks a lot like my worn-out grill scrubbing brush. Although it's tough as nails, either in part sun or light shade, plant it in a special spot where you won't lose it...alpine troughs are a good idea. Oh, so cute and oh, so painfully slow! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Selaginella stauntoniana is another Don Jacobs's introduction that thrives in southeastern gardens. Throughout the summer, this small semi-deciduous spikemoss produces 8" tall upright green fronds about every inch from a short-spreading rhizome. Since it occurs in the wild on dry rocky cliffs, we have found Selaginella stauntoniana adapts well to dry woodland gardens. Our 4-year-old patch is 1' wide. Thanks to Pam Harper for sharing this with us and to fern guru Dr. John Mickel for confirming that we have the true Selaginella stauntoniana. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Peacock moss (a prehistoric fern relative) is one of my favorite groundcovers for the woodland garden...I bet I say that to all the selaginellas. The low, spreading habit and the semi-evergreen metallic aquamarine foliage, overlaid on a green background, are sure to make visitors stop to admire this gem. The color is best after the new growth emerges in late spring. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
.jpg "Epimedium wushanense (Wushan Fairy Wings)")
