Selaginella erythropus 'Ruby Red Club Moss' is a striking tropical plant prized for its unusual two-tone foliage. The upper surface displays rich green to dark green coloration, while the undersides reveal beautiful ruby-red to burgundy tones, creating an incredible contrast when viewed from different angles.
Despite its common name, Ruby Red Club Moss is not a true moss. It belongs to the ancient Selaginella group of plants and develops delicate, finely textured foliage with a low, spreading growth habit.
This species is particularly well suited to terrariums, vivariums, Wabi-Kusa displays and the emersed sections of paludariums, where consistently high humidity allows its delicate foliage to thrive.
Best Use: Terrarium, vivarium, Wabi-Kusa or emersed paludarium.
Lighting: Low to moderate indirect light. Avoid intense direct light.
Humidity: High humidity is strongly preferred.
Moisture: Keep the growing medium consistently moist without allowing the plant to dry out.
Submersion: Not suitable for long-term fully submerged aquarium growth.
Maintenance: Trim established growth as necessary to maintain the desired shape and encourage a dense appearance.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Selaginella erythropus |
| Common Name | Ruby Red Club Moss / Red Spike Moss |
| Family | Selaginellaceae |
| Plant Type | Terrestrial / Emersed |
| Growth Habit | Low / Creeping / Spreading |
| Typical Height | Approximately 8–15 cm (3–6") |
| Colour | Green Upper Foliage / Ruby-Red to Burgundy Undersides |
| Lighting | Low to Moderate |
| Humidity | High |
| Fully Aquatic? | No — Emersed Growth Only |
| Propagation | Cuttings / Division |
| Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
Ruby Red Club Moss is an excellent choice for creating lush vegetation above the waterline. Its low, spreading foliage can be positioned around rocks, wood, Wabi-Kusa substrates and other emersed hardscape to create the appearance of a miniature tropical forest floor.
In paludariums, position the plant in the humid terrestrial or emersed portion of the display where its roots and growing medium can remain moist while the foliage remains above the water.
The upper surface of the foliage generally remains green to dark green, while the underside produces the characteristic ruby-red to burgundy coloration. Growing conditions can influence the intensity of the colour, so individual plants may naturally vary in appearance.
Available in Canada at Aquascaperoom — specialty plants for aquascaping, Wabi-Kusa, terrariums and paludariums.
