Mature size & growth rate

How big does Resurrection Spike Moss (Selaginella tamariscina) get?

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.

Mature size: 5-15 cm tall in rosette form, spreading 10-25 cm wide

Indoor size vs how big it gets in the wild

Resurrection Spike Moss is a naturally small plant — it stays shelf- and desk-sized for its whole life, so it never becomes a space problem. Indoors and in a pot, expect 5-15 cm tall in rosette form, spreading 10-25 cm wide. A pot, your light levels and a little pruning are what set the final size in a home, far more than the plant's theoretical potential.

It grows mostly by adding leaves, offsets or a slightly wider rosette rather than gaining height — the footprint barely changes year to year.

Growth rate and years to mature

Resurrection Spike Moss is a moderate grower. Realistically, expect three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Its feeding profile backs this up: feed lightly with a dilute balanced fertiliser at quarter strength once a month during active growth in spring and summer. when the plant is in its curled dormant state, withhold fertiliser entirely.

Want this turned into the right next pot at the right moment? The pot size calculator and the resurrection spike moss repotting guide cover when and how much to size up — pot size is one of the biggest levers on how fast resurrection spike moss grows.

How to keep resurrection spike moss smaller

Good news — resurrection spike moss barely needs managing. If you do want to keep it tidy:

Divide or remove offsets when the pot looks crowded to keep resurrection spike moss to a single tidy clump.
Keeping it slightly pot-bound and easing back on feed naturally caps the size.
Pinch or remove the oldest, tiredest leaves so energy goes into a compact, fresh-looking plant.

How to grow resurrection spike moss bigger or faster

If you want it to fill the space sooner, push the conditions rather than hoping — for resurrection spike moss the accelerators are:

It is already in good light; consistent warmth and a balanced feed in spring and summer are the only levers.
A small step up in pot size every couple of years gives the roots a little more room without triggering a size jump.
Feed lightly through the growing season; this plant simply will not race however hard you push it.

Light is almost always the ceiling. The resurrection spike moss light requirements page covers exactly how bright a spot it needs to grow at its potential instead of stalling.

When resurrection spike moss outgrows the room (or the pot)

"Too big" usually arrives as one of these signs for resurrection spike moss:

Roots circling the bottom or pushing out of the drainage hole — it wants a pot one size up, not a bigger room.
Offsets crowding the surface so the original plant looks squashed.
Honestly, resurrection spike moss rarely outgrows a room — outgrowing its pot is the only realistic limit.

If it is the pot rather than the room, it is a repotting job, not a goodbye — see the resurrection spike moss repotting guide. If you want more of this plant instead of a bigger one, the resurrection spike moss propagation guide turns prunings into new plants.

Resurrection Spike Moss size — frequently asked questions

How big does resurrection spike moss get?

Resurrection Spike Moss reaches 5-15 cm tall in rosette form, spreading 10-25 cm wide when grown indoors. It grows mostly by adding leaves, offsets or a slightly wider rosette rather than gaining height — the footprint barely changes year to year.

Is resurrection spike moss slow or fast growing?

Resurrection Spike Moss is a moderate grower. Expect three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Resurrection Spike Moss is a naturally small plant — it stays shelf- and desk-sized for its whole life, so it never becomes a space problem.

How long does resurrection spike moss take to reach full size?

Roughly three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Light, pot size and feeding move that timeline more than anything else.

How do I keep resurrection spike moss smaller?

Divide or remove offsets when the pot looks crowded to keep resurrection spike moss to a single tidy clump. Keeping it slightly pot-bound and easing back on feed naturally caps the size. Pinch or remove the oldest, tiredest leaves so energy goes into a compact, fresh-looking plant.

How can I make resurrection spike moss grow bigger or faster?

It is already in good light; consistent warmth and a balanced feed in spring and summer are the only levers. A small step up in pot size every couple of years gives the roots a little more room without triggering a size jump. Feed lightly through the growing season; this plant simply will not race however hard you push it.