Fan Clubmoss
Diphasiastrum digitatum
Last reviewed: August 2026
Fan clubmoss is an evergreen, spore-bearing groundcover fern relative found in eastern woodlands, where its flat, fan-shaped fronds spread along the forest floor under partial shade.
Toxicity unknown
Fan Clubmoss (Diphasiastrum digitatum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
6"–24" H × 12"–36" W
Bloom
N/A
Native to
AL, AR, CT, DE and 29 more states
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This low-growing, evergreen clubmoss forms dense mats of feathery, fan-like foliage. It spreads slowly by underground stems and maintains its green color year-round. It thrives in partially shaded areas with consistent moisture and well-draining soil.
Growing Fan Clubmoss
Grow Fan Clubmoss in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 6 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 36 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Fan Clubmoss takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Appears too wild and informal for typical HOA standards
- Low growth habit may be perceived as groundcover weeds
- Uncommon plant that HOAs may not recognize as intentional landscaping
Wildlife value
This plant provides shelter and nesting material for small wildlife and ground-dwelling creatures. While it doesn't produce flowers or nectar, its dense evergreen foliage offers year-round cover for beneficial insects and small animals.
Common questions
- Does fan clubmoss produce flowers?
- No. Diphasiastrum digitatum is a spore-bearing plant related to ferns, not a flowering plant. It produces small upright strobili that release spores rather than seeds.
- What kind of habitat does fan clubmoss prefer?
- It typically grows in the dappled light of deciduous and mixed forests, often in acidic, well-drained soil among leaf litter and moss.
- How much sun does fan clubmoss need?
- It does best in part shade to shade, though it can tolerate brighter part sun conditions if soil moisture is adequate.
- Is fan clubmoss easy to grow in a home garden?
- It can be slow to establish and prefers undisturbed woodland conditions with consistent moisture, so it is better suited to naturalized shade gardens than typical cultivated beds.
- Is Fan Clubmoss HOA-friendly?
- Fan Clubmoss takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Fan Clubmoss? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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