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

    Photo by JLBG taken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC

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Selaginella rupincola

Desert Rock Spikemoss

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Item #: 9083

Zones: 7b to 10b, at least

Dormancy: Evergreen

Height: 6" tall

Culture: Sun to Part Sun

Origin: United States

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


(aka: Selaginella SG-3001 CA) We received this cool desert spikemoss, Selaginella rupincola, from fern guru Judith Jones in 2003, not knowing how it would enjoy our cold, wet winters and humid, rainy summers since it hailed from rocky soils and rock ledges in the high southwestern deserts (3,000'-6,000') where Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas meet Mexico. Well, after a decade, we are pleased to announce it has tolerated NC quite fine. For us, Selaginella rupincola has made a 6" tall x 3' wide patch in our full sun rock garden, weaving its way cheerfully and respectfully around agaves and cacti. The evergreen foliage reminds me of what happens when you plug a patch of moss into an electric socket...don't even ask. In drought periods the foliage turns brown, only to re-hydrate when the rains return. There are never enough evergreen groundcovers for the sunny rock garden, so add this one to the list.