Foxtail bog clubmoss (Lycopodiella alopecuroides)

Overview

Lycopodiella alopecuroides, known commonly as the Foxtail bog clubmoss, is a distinctive, non-flowering herbaceous perennial valued for its ancient lineage and specific wetland habitat needs. This clubmoss features two types of stems: prostrate sterile stems that spread horizontally and upright fertile stems topped with spore-producing spikes resembling a foxtail. Successful cultivation of Lycopodiella alopecuroides hinges entirely on replicating its native habitat of acidic, consistently saturated sandy soils.

As a perennial, this fascinating plant offers low-growing texture and unique form, making it an excellent focal point in specialized water gardens or constructed bog environments. While it demands high maintenance due to its strict water and soil pH requirements, the reward is maintaining a rare piece of the eastern North American flora. Gardeners must understand that the Foxtail bog clubmoss does not tolerate competition, requiring dedicated space within the landscape.

The appearance of the fertile stems, which justify the common name Foxtail bog clubmoss, provides visual interest throughout the growing season, though it shares no typical floral display with flowering plants. Providing the correct conditions allows this specialist to thrive in hardiness zones 5 through 9.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Lycopodiaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Native Range: Southern North America, Central and South America
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-9
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 0.75-1 ft
  • Spread: 1-1.25 ft
• Bloom Time: Non-flowering
• Bloom Description: Non-flowering
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Wet
• Maintenance Level: High

How to Grow

The best time to establish Lycopodiella alopecuroides is during the spring, ensuring consistent warmth supports initial root establishment. Planting requires mimicking bog conditions precisely: utilize acidic sand mixed with a top layer of peat moss to maintain the necessary structure and pH balance. Full sun or light partial shade is acceptable, provided the root zone never dries out.

Maintenance for the Foxtail bog clubmoss is high, primarily focused on water quality and soil moisture. Never allow the soil to dry; in fact, the area should remain perpetually saturated or standing wet. Crucially, if your local water supply is alkaline or heavily mineralized (hard water), you must substitute rain water, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water to prevent soil pH from shifting detrimentally.

This plant does not compete well. Ensure it is situated away from aggressive or vigorous border plants that could crowd out its shallow, spreading roots. There is no significant fertilization required or recommended; concentrate management efforts on ambient conditions.

Winter preparation is minimal as long as the bog environment remains reliably wet even beneath potential snow cover. In spring, gently check the peat layer for any compaction and ensure drainage remains appropriate for a wetland species.

Landscape Uses

Lycopodiella alopecuroides is perfectly suited for specialized landscape applications where moisture levels are extreme. It excels as a Water Plant or used to Naturalize areas surrounding water features, such as the edges of ponds or constructed rain gardens. Its texture contrasts beautifully with broader-leafed bog plants.

Consider dedicating a section of your landscape specifically to mimicking a natural seep or bog garden where the specific soil and water requirements of the Foxtail bog clubmoss can be met without compromise. Because this plant spreads via horizontal sterile stems, it can form an intriguing, low-growing groundcover in these saturated spots.

Pair Lycopodiella alopecuroides with other acid-loving, moisture-tolerant companions like certain Sphagnum mosses, pitcher plants (Sarracenia), or leatherleaf sedge that share similar cultural demands. Avoid placing it near drought-tolerant perennials.

Standout Features

Noteworthy Characteristics

Lycopodiella alopecuroides, commonly called foxtail bog clubmoss, is a herbaceous, perennial, non-flowering plant native to the eastern seaboard and Gulf coastal plain of the United States where it can be found growing in bogs, sandy seeps, wet meadows, roadside ditches, powerline cuts and other open, moist areas. Mature plants are made up of both sterile and fertile stems and will reach around 12” tall and 16” wide. The sterile stems are strongly arched to prostrate, spreading horizontally across the ground and anchored via adventitious roots. The fertile stems are upright, occasionally branched, and topped with a 0.75-2” long strobilus (spore-producing structure, plural: strobili). The leaves along the stems are small, needle-like, coarsely toothed, and held close to the stem. The common name foxtail bog clubmoss references the similarities in appearance between the inflorescence of species of foxtail grass and the fertile stems of this species.

Tolerances

• Wet Soil

Potential Problems

The primary constraint when growing this species is its absolutely rigid cultural requirements; it will not tolerate dry soil or high-pH water sources. This specificity translates to high maintenance but surprisingly few typical pest or disease issues are noted for Lycopodiella alopecuroides.

Successful propagation and establishment depend entirely on the gardener’s ability to maintain consistently wet, sandy, and acidic conditions year-round. If the soil becomes too rich or compact, the plant will quickly fail to thrive, as it is outcompeted by nearly all other vigorously growing alternatives.

Prevention is focused entirely on proactive environmental management. Regularly test the pH of your watering source and amend adjacent soils as needed to ensure the environment meets the acidic needs of the Foxtail bog clubmoss.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Foxtail bog clubmoss suitable for?

Lycopodiella alopecuroides is hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 9, provided its need for saturated, acidic soil is met throughout the year.

How large does Lycopodiella alopecuroides grow?

Mature Foxtail bog clubmoss typically reaches a height between 0.75 to 1 foot tall, spreading horizontally to cover an area between 1 and 1.25 feet wide.

What sun exposure does Lycopodiella alopecuroides need?

This clubmoss requires an environment ranging from full sun to partial shade, emphasizing that the soil itself must remain wet regardless of the light conditions experienced above ground.

When does Foxtail bog clubmoss bloom?

Lycopodiella alopecuroides is a non-flowering plant; it reproduces via spores released from the terminal strobili located on its fertile stems.

Conclusion

The Foxtail bog clubmoss offers a truly specialized texture and form for the dedicated bog gardener willing to meet its demanding requirements for highly saturated, acidic media. Cultivating Lycopodiella alopecuroides successfully means mastering water quality and soil structure management. Before planting, carefully check your local water hardness and confirm your site receives the correct balance of sun and moisture for this unique perennial.

Companion Planting Strategies

When designing a habitat suitable for Lycopodiella alopecuroides, focus on native wetland companions that tolerate the same highly acidic, perpetually wet soil composition. Plants like various species of carnivorous pitcher plants (Sarracenia) are ideal partners, as they share similar native bog ecosystems and low-nutrient needs.

Consider using low-growing, fibrous sedges or specific Sphagnum mosses to carpet the surface around the clubmoss. These ground-level companions help insulate the moist sands and maintain consistent humidity around the bases of the sterile stems of the Foxtail bog clubmoss. Avoid any nearby plants that drop heavy leaves or require drier, less acidic soil, as these will rapidly degrade the microclimate needed by this sensitive perennial.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Spring is the key time for observation and preparation for Lycopodiella alopecuroides. Ensure the overwintered soil mix is still damp and uncompacted, adding a fresh dusting of peat moss if necessary. Transition the plant slowly into slightly brighter conditions if it was protected during winter dormancy preparations.

Summer management centers entirely on hydration, prioritizing the use of pure water sources to avoid mineral buildup. In autumn, carefully monitor rain runoff if the bog is a depression, ensuring that leaf debris from deciduous trees is removed promptly so it does not smother the low-growing sterile stems. Little intervention is needed in winter besides verifying the root zone does not freeze solid unexpectedly in shallow containers or raised beds.