Selaginella kraussiana 'Gold Tips'

RHS Plant Profile
Kraus's clubmoss 'Golden Tips'

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Kraus's clubmoss 'Golden Tips' RHS / Joanna Kossak
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A form of spikemoss or lesser clubmoss. A non-flowering, rhizomatous, mat-forming perennial, up to 5cm high, with trailing stems up to 30cm long, rooting from the nodes so that they may be infinitely spreading, and branching into evergreen, frond-like sprays of green leaves with yellow-green growing tips. An ideal plant for terrariums or bottle gardens

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or North–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Selaginellaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming
Genus
Selaginella are evergreen rhizomatous perennials which may be small and tufted or tall and scrambling, the slender stems covered with small scale-like leaves; spores develop in short terminal spikes
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

In milder frost-free areas, grow outdoors in moderately fertile, humus-rich, neutral to slightly acidic, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade, with shelter from cold drying winds; in colder areas, grow under glass, in bright filtered or indirect light and high humidity, but with good air circulation, in a rapidly draining, coarse, open medium rich in organic matter, for example a loam-based medium, such as peat-free John Innes No. 2, with additional leafmould, bark, sharp sand or fine grit and some charcoal, and when growing water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly, but keep just moist in winter. An ideal plant for terrariums and bottle gardens

Propagation

Propagate by spores, sown at 21°C as soon as they are ripe, or by division of rhizomes or rooted stems in spring, or by layering; for more advice on propagation by spores, see hardy fern cultivation

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to slugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free