Plumed Spikemoss: A Living Fossil for Your Tropical Garden
Meet the plumed spikemoss (Selaginella plumosa), a fascinating little plant that’s been around since before dinosaurs roamed the Earth! This isn’t your typical garden plant—it’s actually a living fossil that belongs to an ancient group of plants called spikemosses or lycopods. While it might look like a delicate moss at first glance, this Caribbean native has some unique characteristics that make it a conversation starter in any tropical garden.
What Exactly Is Plumed Spikemoss?
Despite its common name, plumed spikemoss isn’t actually a true moss. It’s a spikemoss (Selaginella), which makes it more closely related to ferns than to the mosses you might find growing on rocks or tree trunks. These ancient plants reproduce through spores rather than flowers or seeds, making them quite different from most plants in your garden.
Selaginella plumosa gets its plumed name from its delicate, feathery appearance. The tiny leaves are arranged in overlapping scales along branching stems, creating a soft, plume-like texture that’s simply enchanting up close.
Where Does It Come From?
This little beauty is native to the Caribbean, specifically Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In its natural habitat, you’ll find it growing in the understory of tropical forests where humidity is high and direct sunlight is filtered through the forest canopy.
Is Plumed Spikemoss Beneficial in the Garden?
If you live in USDA hardiness zones 10-12, plumed spikemoss can be a delightful addition to your garden, though it serves a quite different purpose than typical flowering plants:
- Ground cover magic: It creates a soft, carpet-like ground cover in shaded areas where other plants might struggle
- Textural interest: The fine, delicate foliage adds wonderful textural contrast to broader-leaved tropical plants
- Living history: It’s like having a piece of prehistoric Earth in your garden
- Low maintenance: Once established in the right conditions, it’s relatively easy to care for
However, it’s worth noting that spikemosses don’t provide the same wildlife benefits as flowering natives—no nectar for pollinators or seeds for birds. They’re more about adding unique beauty and ecological diversity to your landscape.
How to Identify Plumed Spikemoss
Wondering if you’ve spotted this little gem? Here’s what to look for:
- Size: Small and low-growing, typically staying under 6 inches tall
- Leaves: Tiny, scale-like leaves that overlap like shingles
- Texture: Soft, feathery, plume-like appearance
- Growth pattern: Spreads along the ground with branching stems
- Color: Various shades of green, often with a slightly bluish or silvery tint
- Spores: Look for tiny cone-like structures (strobili) at the tips of branches—these contain the spores
Growing Conditions and Care
If you’re in the right climate zone and want to try growing plumed spikemoss, here’s what it needs to thrive:
- Light: Bright, indirect light or dappled shade—direct sun will scorch it
- Humidity: High humidity is essential (60% or higher)
- Moisture: Consistently moist but well-draining soil
- Temperature: Warm temperatures year-round (65-80°F)
- Soil: Rich, organic, well-draining potting mix
For those in cooler climates, plumed spikemoss makes an excellent terrarium plant or indoor specimen, where you can control the humidity and temperature more easily.
A Word of Caution
Since this plant is native only to a very specific region (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), make sure you’re sourcing it responsibly. Wild collection can harm native populations, so always purchase from reputable nurseries that propagate their plants rather than collecting from the wild.
The Bottom Line
Plumed spikemoss isn’t for every garden or every gardener, but for those who appreciate unique, ancient plants and have the right tropical conditions, it’s a fascinating addition. Think of it as adding a living piece of natural history to your landscape—just don’t expect it to attract butterflies or provide the ecosystem services of flowering natives. Sometimes, the joy is simply in growing something truly special and different!
