Meet Selaginella stipitata: The Delicate Spikemoss You Might Be Overlooking
If you’ve ever wandered through the shaded woodlands of the southeastern United States and noticed what looks like a particularly elegant moss carpeting the forest floor, you might have encountered Selaginella stipitata. This charming little plant is actually not a moss at all—it’s a spikemoss, which puts it in an entirely different category of plants that’s both ancient and fascinating.
What Exactly Is a Spikemoss?
Don’t let the name fool you—spikemosses aren’t true mosses, despite their moss-like appearance. Selaginella stipitata belongs to an ancient group of plants called lycophytes, which have been around for hundreds of millions of years. Think of them as the distant cousins of ferns, but with their own unique charm and characteristics.
This particular spikemoss creates delicate, flattened sprays of tiny, scale-like leaves that overlap like shingles on a roof. The overall effect is incredibly fine-textured and almost feathery, giving it an ethereal quality that can add subtle beauty to any shaded garden space.
Where Does It Call Home?
Selaginella stipitata is a true southeastern native, naturally occurring in states like Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, particularly along the Gulf Coast region. In its native habitat, you’ll find it thriving in the understory of moist woodlands, where it forms soft carpets beneath larger trees and shrubs.
Is It Beneficial in Your Garden?
While Selaginella stipitata won’t attract butterflies or provide nectar for bees (since it reproduces through spores rather than flowers), it does offer several garden benefits:
- Creates a living mulch that helps retain soil moisture
- Adds fine texture and visual interest to shaded areas
- Provides habitat for small soil-dwelling creatures
- Helps prevent soil erosion on gentle slopes
- Requires minimal maintenance once established
Spotting Selaginella stipitata in the Wild
Learning to identify this spikemoss can be tricky since it looks so similar to true mosses at first glance. Here’s what to look for:
- Flattened, fan-like growth pattern rather than the upright growth of many mosses
- Scale-like leaves that overlap in four distinct rows
- Slightly larger overall size compared to most mosses
- Tendency to grow in distinct patches or colonies
- Preference for consistently moist but not waterlogged soil
Growing Conditions and Care
If you’re fortunate enough to live in USDA zones 8-11 and want to encourage this native spikemoss in your garden, here’s what it needs to thrive:
Light: Partial to full shade—direct sunlight will quickly stress or kill this delicate plant.
Moisture: Consistent moisture is key, but avoid waterlogged conditions. Think woodland floor after a gentle rain rather than swamp.
Soil: Well-draining but moisture-retentive soil with plenty of organic matter works best.
Humidity: This little plant loves humidity, making it perfect for naturally humid climates or protected garden microclimates.
A Perfect Partner for Native Gardening
Selaginella stipitata makes an excellent companion for other southeastern natives like wild ginger, coral bells, and native ferns. It’s particularly at home in woodland gardens where it can spread naturally and create that authentic forest floor feeling.
The best part? Once it’s happy in your garden, it pretty much takes care of itself. No fertilizing, no deadheading, no fuss—just the quiet, steady presence of an ancient plant doing what it’s done for millions of years.
While you might not be able to buy Selaginella stipitata at your local garden center, keep an eye out for it on nature walks. Sometimes the most beautiful garden additions are the ones we learn to notice and appreciate right in our own native landscapes.
