Thursday, March 11, 2010

Ruby Red Spikemoss



Ruby Red Spikemoss
Selaginella erythropus 'Sanguinea'
(sell-lah-gi-NEL-uh) (er-ee-THROW-pus)


This cool looking groundcover was planted on the steep (sheer, actually) hillsides that are at the entrance to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden in Papaikou on the Big Island. The red feathery stems and green leaves made for a dramatic sight. We saw other types Selaginella growing at the HTBG and other places on the islands. It usually appeared to be a neat and fun groundcover. It kept reminding me off some of our evergreen trees shrunk down to miniature size. Mostly it looked like some sort of Arborvitae or Cypress.

Red Spikemoss grows to be 4-6 inches tall and likes a shady, moist soil. It spreads under the right conditions but not rampantly. It is hardy to USDA Zone 7 but can be grown in a container and over wintered indoors in colder climes.

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Here is a photo of a San Diego sunset from early 2009. We were treated to this just hanging around the Tourmaline Surfing Park in the late afternoon. An unexpected beauty.

10 comments:

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

The sunset pic is absolutely stunning. It wouldn't have been the same without the runners

Kala said...

I really like the shot of the moss - and what a name!

Sylvia K said...

Do love those golden sunsets!!! Fantastic capture! The runners do make it perfect! Have a great weekend!

Sylvia

Carletta said...

A stunning sunset! Love the goldern reflection.

syel said...

gorgeous sunset! love the silhouettes of the runners and the reflection on water :)

Digital Flower Pictures said...

Thank you for the comments. This was just one of the many beautiful sunsets we saw in San Diego last winter. I'm glad I had my camera! Kala, the Moss gets the cutest little plants award from Hawaii.

eileeninmd said...

Beautiful sunset and a lovely image!

Shubd said...

lovely molten gold ...

Arija said...

Lovely ferns and moss and such a brilliant sunset!

Unknown said...

This is a wonderful photogragh! I am passing on the Sunshine award to you..

Ellie

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AN1WteczKQs/S5iGF-SFYjI/AAAAAAAACTc/fRtO4VwxKW8/s1600-h/sunshineblogaward[1].jpg