Selaginella uncinata

Peacock spikemoss

Selaginella uncinata, the peacock or blue spikemoss, is a creeping lycophyte native to southern China. Its fronds shine iridescent blue in shade. It grows on moist, shaded ground, rocks and stream banks in warm-temperate to subtropical forest. It is hardy enough to grow outdoors on the US Gulf Coast. In a terrarium it wants shade, constant moisture and mild temperatures.

At home, aim for

Day IntermediateTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Humid airBand in Plantistry

Light ShadeDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

No rest periodGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

A trailing, rooting spikemoss of shaded, damp forest floors, rocky banks and streamsides in the subtropical evergreen and mixed forests of southern China. Its blue iridescence develops in low light and fades in sun.

GBIF elevations cluster from near sea level to about 1,000 m, most often 200–600 m.

China South-CentralChina Southeast

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