Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Resurrection Spike Moss (Selaginella tamariscina)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Tamarisk Spike Moss, Resurrection Plant.

More about resurrection spike moss

About Resurrection Spike Moss

Selaginella tamariscina · also called Tamarisk Spike Moss, Resurrection Plant · houseplant

Resurrection Spike Moss is a remarkable spike moss native to rocky areas of East and Southeast Asia, widely used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. In drought conditions the plant curls into a tight ball; on rehydration it opens and turns bright green within hours. An unusual curiosity houseplant. Considered non-toxic to pets.

Cold limit: USDA 6-10 · RHS H4 (5-28°C)

Watch for — No resurrection response: Very old or stressed plants may take several hours to rehydrate fully. Ensure complete immersion in room-temperature water rather than surface watering.

What resurrection spike moss's hardiness rating actually means

Yes — resurrection spike moss is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H4 and USDA 6-10, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. Its RHS rating of H4 means: Hardy in an average winter across much of the temperate world. On the US scale that maps to USDA 6-10 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about −10 to −5 °C. Resurrection Spike Moss is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

Concretely, for resurrection spike moss as it gets too cold:

It tolerates winter lows to about −10 to −5 °C once established.
Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root.
First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.

Can resurrection spike moss go outside or overwinter — and where?

Plant it out within USDA 6-10 and it overwinters with little or no help.
It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy.
The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when resurrection spike moss can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H4 figure above.

Resurrection Spike Moss hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is resurrection spike moss cold hardy?

Yes — resurrection spike moss is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H4 and USDA 6-10, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. An outdoor plant. Resurrection Spike Moss is hardy across USDA 6-10; it belongs in the ground or a frost-proof container, not on a windowsill, and many types actively need a cold winter to perform.

What is the minimum temperature resurrection spike moss can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about −10 to −5 °C. Resurrection Spike Moss is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

What hardiness zone is resurrection spike moss?

Resurrection Spike Moss is rated USDA 6-10 and RHS H4 — Hardy in an average winter across much of the temperate world.

Can resurrection spike moss survive winter outside?

Plant it out within USDA 6-10 and it overwinters with little or no help. It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy. The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

What happens to resurrection spike moss below its minimum temperature?

It tolerates winter lows to about −10 to −5 °C once established. Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root. First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.