• Image of Selaginella borealis|Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG

    Photo by JLBG taken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC

  • Image of Selaginella borealis|Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG

    Photo by JLBG taken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC

  • Image of Selaginella borealis|Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG

    Photo by JLBG taken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC

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Selaginella borealis

Twiggy Spikemoss

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

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Item #: 5120

Zones: 6a to 8b, at least

Dormancy: Evergreen

Height: 2" tall

Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade

Origin: Japan

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


(aka: Selaginella sanguinolenta var. compressa) Selaginella borealis has long been our favorite dry rock garden selaginella, but now it's taken its rightful place as one of the great fairy garden plants of our time. Our parent plant is 12 years old and only 2" tall x 10" wide. In foliage, Selaginella borealis resembles a clump of moss that was plugged into a high voltage electrical outlet. Come to think of it, Selaginella borealis 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 twiggy spikemoss in a special spot where you won't lose it...alpine troughs are a good idea. Oh, so cute and oh, so painfully slow!