Selaginella Erythropus (Ruby Red Clubmoss)

Green above, ruby red beneath. Selaginella erythropus creeps low across damp ground with fronds that show bright green on top and vivid red underneath, so the color appears as the fronds lift and overlap. It is a terrarium plant, not an aquarium one.

What You'll Receive

Sold as loose fresh-cut plants, bunched plants, or potted plants:

• Fresh-Cut Plants: Approximately 6 individual stems without root
• Bunched Plants: Approximately 6 stems without root bundled with foam and a plant weight
• Potted Plants: Approximately 6 stems without root potted in rockwool and net pot

Plant Profile

• Common name — Ruby Red Clubmoss
• Scientific name — Selaginella erythropus
• Origin — Central and South America
• True aquatic — No. Terrestrial only; it will not survive submerged
• Placement — Terrarium, vivarium or paludarium ground cover, above the waterline
• Growth habit — Non-Aquatic. Low creeping spread

Care

• Difficulty — Intermediate. Unforgiving if it dries out
• Light — Medium to bright indirect. Avoid harsh direct sun
• CO₂ — Not required
• Humidity — Above 60%. This is the deciding factor
• Substrate — Keep evenly moist at all times; a rich, well-draining mix suits it best
• Propagation — Division or stem cuttings

Grower's Notes

• This plant cannot live underwater. It is sold for terrariums, vivariums and paludariums, planted above the waterline. Submerged it will rot within weeks — if you want red color in an aquarium, this is the wrong plant.
• Humidity matters more than light. Below about 60% the fronds curl and brown quickly, and once dried out it rarely recovers. An enclosed setup is effectively required.
• The red is on the leaf undersides, so it shows as the fronds arch and overlap rather than face-on. Site it where you look across the planting, not straight down.
• Its own fronds are a humidity gauge — curling means the enclosure has dried out before anything else shows it.
• Creeps rather than climbs, which makes it a genuine ground cover between taller terrarium plants.

Notes

• Selaginella erythropus depends on consistent moisture and humidity. If allowed to dry out, it will quickly decline. Ensure proper terrarium or indoor care to maintain its appearance.
• Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.

At a glance

• Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
• Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
• Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
• USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
• UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
• Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
• We ship within the United States only.

Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.

The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.

How it works

• Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
• Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
• We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.

Good to know

• Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
• Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
• Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.

The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.

Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.

Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.