Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Selaginella bigelovii is a species of spikemoss known by the common names bushy spikemoss and Bigelow's spikemoss. It is native to California and Baja California, where it grows in rocky places in many different habitat types, from the coastline to the mountains to the deserts. This lycophyte forms clumps of spreading upright to erect stems up to 20 centimeters long with a few short lateral branches. The linear or lance-shaped green leaves are up to 4 millimeters long, including the tiny rigid bristles at their tips. They are flattened to the stem or stick out just a little. The strobili borne at the leaf bases are yellow-orange in color.

Plant type

Fern

Size

6 in Tall
1 ft Wide

Special uses

Containers

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade, Deep Shade

Water

Low

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 15° F

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Requires thin, rocky soil. Not tolerant of garden soil.
Soil PH: 5.6 - 7.4

Sunset Zones

7, 14, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18*, 19

Site type

Open places, rocks, crevices,

Plant communities

Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, Foothill Woodland

Although not often used in gardens, Selaginella could be used in a a rock garden with a variety of other native plants.