Huperzia selago
northern firmoss
Arctic and cool temperate Northern Hemisphere
Deer Resistant
Native to North America
Overview
Huperzia selago is a small evergreen clubmoss in the family Lycopodiaceae, forming dense tufts of stiff, erect, forking stems 2–10 inches (5–25 cm) tall. The stems are clothed in many small, narrow, pointed leaves 0.2–0.4 inch (4–10 mm) long, arranged spirally and pressed forward to spreading, giving an even, bottlebrush-like shoot. Unlike many clubmosses it produces no distinct cones; instead, pale yellow spore capsules sit singly in the axils of ordinary leaves along the upper stem. It also forms small leaf-like gemmae that detach and grow into new plants, a reliable means of spread. The plant is a spore-bearing vascular relative of ferns, not a flowering plant. It grows on acid, peaty, or rocky ground in mountains, moorland, heath, and cliff ledges, mostly in cool, humid, high-rainfall districts. It is slow-growing and intolerant of drying, nutrient enrichment, and disturbance, so it is restricted to undisturbed, lime-free habitats and declines where land is drained or fertilised.
Native Range
Native to cool and arctic-alpine regions across the Northern Hemisphere, including northern and upland Europe, northern Asia, and northern North America. It also occurs at high elevations farther south on acid, rocky ground.Suggested Uses
Huperzia selago is occasionally grown by specialist collectors of clubmosses and alpine plants in cool, humid settings. In the wild it is used as an indicator of clean, undisturbed, acid upland habitats. It has a history of medicinal and folk use, though it contains toxic alkaloids.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 10"
Width/Spread2" - 6"
Bloom Information
Huperzia selago does not flower, as it is a spore-bearing clubmoss rather than a flowering plant. Pale yellow spore capsules ripen in the upper leaf axils mainly from summer to autumn and split to release spores. It also reproduces vegetatively through gemmae that root where they fall.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
deep greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight