Selaginella Kraussiana 'Frosty Fern'

The Frosty Fern, also known as the Winter Fern, has become a popular holiday house plant and gift plant, thanks to its textural, slivered foliage. It gets it common name from the distinctive white color of its new growth, giving its tips a frosted appearance.
However, the question of why the fern plant is part of its common name remains a mystery since it it not a fern at all! Instead, it is a variety of spike moss, and confusingly enough, not a type of moss either. This plant prefers prefer bright light and high humidity. While it is most commonly sold during the holiday season, the Frosty Fern can be kept up as a house plant all year round. 

Ed's Plant Profile 

• Botanical Name: Selaginella Kraussiana
• Common Name(s): Frosty Fern, Winter Fern
• Family: Selaginellaceae
• Native Range: South and East Africa

Ed's Care Guide

• Care Level: Moderate
• Light: Prefers bright light
• Water: Keep soil moist
• Humidity: Medium to High humidity needs
• Temperature: 60-80F
• Feeding: Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer once a month, or every other week in the summer
• Growth: Bushy
• Pests: Look out for mealy bugs and spider mites