Wallace’s Spikemoss: A Tiny Ancient Wonder for Your Garden
Meet Wallace’s spikemoss (Selaginella wallacei), a fascinating little plant that’s been around since before dinosaurs roamed the earth! Don’t let the name fool you – this isn’t actually a moss at all, but rather a spikemoss, which belongs to an ancient group of plants called lycophytes. Think of it as a living fossil that’s perfectly happy to call your garden home.
What Exactly Is Wallace’s Spikemoss?
Wallace’s spikemoss is a perennial forb that looks remarkably similar to moss but is actually more closely related to ferns. This tiny powerhouse creates beautiful, low-growing mats of delicate, scale-like leaves that are arranged in neat, overlapping patterns. Unlike true mosses, spikemosses are vascular plants, meaning they have tiny plumbing systems to move water and nutrients around – pretty impressive for something so small!
The plant reproduces through spores rather than seeds, and you might occasionally spot tiny, cone-like structures called strobili where these spores develop. It’s like having your own miniature prehistoric landscape right in your backyard.
Where Does It Call Home?
This native North American gem naturally occurs across the western regions, including Alberta, British Columbia, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. It’s right at home in both Canada and the lower 48 states, making it a truly continental species.
Is Wallace’s Spikemoss Beneficial in Gardens?
Absolutely! While Wallace’s spikemoss might not attract pollinators like flowering plants do (since it doesn’t produce flowers), it offers several wonderful benefits to garden ecosystems:
- Provides excellent ground cover in challenging shady spots where other plants struggle
- Helps prevent soil erosion with its mat-forming growth habit
- Creates microhabitats for tiny beneficial insects and soil organisms
- Adds unique texture and year-round interest to woodland and rock gardens
- Requires minimal maintenance once established
- Thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3-8, making it suitable for many climates
How to Identify Wallace’s Spikemoss
Spotting Wallace’s spikemoss is easier than you might think once you know what to look for:
- Size: Forms low, spreading mats typically just a few inches tall
- Leaves: Tiny, scale-like leaves arranged in neat, overlapping patterns along delicate stems
- Color: Generally bright to dark green, sometimes with a slightly bluish tinge
- Growth pattern: Spreads horizontally to create dense, cushion-like patches
- Texture: Soft and feathery to the touch, much more delicate than true mosses
- Habitat: Typically found in moist, shaded areas, often on rocky surfaces or forest floors
Perfect Spots for This Ancient Beauty
Wallace’s spikemoss thrives in conditions that mimic its natural woodland habitat. Look for spots in your garden that offer consistent moisture and partial to full shade. It’s particularly happy in rock gardens, between stepping stones, or as an understory groundcover in woodland settings. The plant prefers well-draining soil that stays consistently moist but never waterlogged.
If you’re lucky enough to have Wallace’s spikemoss appear naturally in your garden, consider yourself blessed with a living piece of natural history. This remarkable little plant connects us to an ancient world while providing modern benefits to our contemporary landscapes.
