Lycopodium digitatum
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Diphasiastrum digitatum
- Phonetic Spelling
- ly-koh-POH-de-um dig-ee-TAH-tum
- Description
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Fan Clubmoss is the most common species of the Lycopodium genus in North America. It is a herbaceous perennial, evergreen subshrub, non-flowering member of the club moss family. It grows in woodland areas in well-drained acidic soils. It is a small upright plant with long, horizontal stems that run along the ground and, at maturity, the plant will reach about 8 inches high. Upright shoots produce a central stem with scale-like leaves and lateral, fan-like, branches horizontal to the ground. Small, scale-like, leaves are distributed along the sides of the horizontal and vertical stems. A fertile upright shoot produces cone-like spore-bearing structures that split open to release their spores in the late summer or autumn. In addition, colonies of upright shoots are often produced from the horizontal stems.
Fan Clubmoss is drought tolerant plant, though it does best with even moisture. It prefers sandy or rocky, acidic soil, dappled sunlight or light shade, and well drained conditions. It is very difficult to cultivate in the garden. It is almost impossible to transplant and to grow mature plants from spores can take up to 20 years. This species develops underground and requires the presence of appropriate fungi.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lycopodium
- Species:
- digitatum
- Family:
- Lycopodiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada to Central and Eastern United States.
- Distribution:
- Canada south to Georgia and west to Mississippi river.
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant attracts birds and mammals.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Spores display from July to September.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Non-flowering plant.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The stems contain tiny (less than 1/4 inch) scale-like leaves that are appressed to slightly spreading. The leaves on the two narrow sides of each lateral branch are linear in shape, while the leaves on its two broad sides are lanceolate.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The horizontal and central stems are pale to medium green, terete, and glabrous.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Shade Garden
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heavy Shade
