Flat-Branch Tree Club-Moss
Lycopodium obscurum
Last reviewed: June 2026
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
6"–24" H × 12"–36" W
Bloom
N/A
Native to
AL, CT, DE, GA and 21 more states
Ground pine is a distinctive evergreen club moss that forms colonies of upright, branching stems resembling miniature conifer trees. It thrives in acidic, well-drained soils under partial shade and creates an attractive carpet-like groundcover. It grows slowly but provides year-round green interest in woodland gardens.
In an HOA neighborhood
Flat-Branch Tree Club-Moss 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.
- Unusual appearance may be unfamiliar to HOA boards
- Very slow establishment can look sparse initially
- Woodland plant may appear too wild for formal landscapes
Wildlife value
While not a significant pollinator plant, ground pine provides shelter and foraging habitat for small woodland creatures and insects. Its evergreen structure offers winter cover for ground-dwelling wildlife.
Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Does Flat-Branch Tree Club-Moss fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.