Selaginella davidii

A small, creeping spikemoss from northern and central China, named after the missionary-naturalist Armand David. It lives in a strongly continental climate with hot, wet summers and freezing, dry winters, and it is one of the hardier Selaginella. It suits a cool, shaded rock garden, alpine house or unheated terrarium rather than a tropical one.

At home, aim for

Day IntermediateTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry

Light ShadeDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Shaded, moist rock, rock crevices and banks in forest and ravines in the hills of northern and central China. It forms low mats over mossy rock and soil.

Records span 768–2,800 m, median 1,349 m (11 records).

China North-CentralChina South-CentralChina SoutheastInner MongoliaTibet

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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More Selaginella

Selaginella apoda Selaginella lepidophylla Selaginella tortipila Selaginella ciliaris Selaginella moellendorffii Selaginella deflexa Selaginella kraussiana Selaginella selaginoides Selaginella stellata Selaginella uliginosa Selaginella australiensis Selaginella brisbanensis All 765 →

Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.