How much sun does Marsh Club-moss need?

Marsh Club-moss grows best in part shade conditions.

When does Marsh Club-moss bloom?

Marsh Club-moss blooms in July, August, September, and October.

Where is Marsh Club-moss native?

Marsh Club-moss (Lycopodiella inundata) is native to CA, CT, IA, ID and 22 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Is Marsh Club-moss HOA-friendly?

Marsh Club-moss takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Marsh Club-moss

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Lycopodiella inundata

Last reviewed: September 2026

Toxicity unknown

Marsh Club-moss (Lycopodiella inundata) 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

high

Size

2"–8" H × 4"–12" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Native to

CA, CT, IA, ID and 22 more states

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Huron/Erie Lake Plains Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau Erie Drift Plain Northern Forests Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Central Appalachians Western Allegheny Plateau Acadian Plains and Hills Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Marsh club-moss is a low-growing evergreen ground cover that forms small spreading mats in moist, shaded areas. This ancient plant produces distinctive club-shaped spore structures in late summer and fall, giving it an unusual prehistoric appearance.

In an HOA neighborhood

Marsh Club-moss takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Requires specialized wet conditions unsuitable for typical landscapes
Unfamiliar appearance may be mistaken for moss or weeds
Very low height makes it nearly invisible in maintained settings

Wildlife value

This plant provides minimal direct wildlife value as it does not produce flowers or nectar for pollinators. It may offer shelter for very small insects and invertebrates within its dense mat-like growth.

Common questions

How much sun does Marsh Club-moss need?: Marsh Club-moss grows best in part shade conditions.
When does Marsh Club-moss bloom?: Marsh Club-moss blooms in July, August, September, and October.
Where is Marsh Club-moss native?: Marsh Club-moss (Lycopodiella inundata) is native to CA, CT, IA, ID and 22 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Marsh Club-moss HOA-friendly?: Marsh Club-moss takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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.

See all plant problem guides

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