Name: Selaginella krausianna variegatus aka frosty fern
Type of Plant: Not a fern at all, but a variegated spike moss or African club moss. This plant is said to be hardy in a zone 8b, so in cold areas needs to be considered a houseplant. It’s native to Africa, the Azores and Mediterranean regions.
Why I love this: This plant is bright green with white tips, and it has a fresh look that is especially welcome as we are in the darkest time of the year. It’s also a plant that encourages creativity. Plant it in a large terrarium, a fairy garden, a pot or other container. Because this plant likes it moist it can, unlike other plants, be well grown in containers without a drainage hole.
A Word to the Wise: This plant likes it warm and wet. Don’t let it get too cold or too dry. It appreciates bottom watering, so one great way to grow it is in a plastic pot that fits inside another container. That way you can put water in the outside, decorative container and then place the plastic pot with the plant into that reservoir.
Here is the fresh, “dusted with snow” look of the foliage that made someone, somewhere, say “This could be a great new holiday plant!” I agree.
Two pots of frosty fern were great in a ceramic bread loaf pan…a nice hostess gift when a bow is added.
