Groundcedar: The Ancient Carpet of the Forest Floor
Meet groundcedar (Lycopodium complanatum), one of nature’s most fascinating living fossils! This isn’t your typical garden plant – it’s actually a lycopod, an ancient group of plants that predates even the dinosaurs. While it might look like a miniature evergreen shrub, groundcedar is more closely related to ferns than to trees, making it a truly unique addition to our understanding of woodland ecosystems.
What Exactly Is Groundcedar?
Groundcedar is a perennial lycopod that creates dense, carpet-like mats across forest floors. Unlike flowering plants, this ancient species reproduces through spores rather than seeds, just like its fern cousins. The plant forms distinctive flattened, scale-like leaves that give it an almost braided appearance as it creeps along the ground. It’s essentially nature’s version of a living green carpet!
Where You’ll Find This Living Fossil
This remarkable plant is native to a vast range across the northern regions of North America. You can find groundcedar naturally occurring across Canada (from Alberta to Newfoundland), Alaska, Greenland, and many northern U.S. states including Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Identifying Groundcedar in the Wild
Spotting groundcedar is easier once you know what to look for:
- Forms low, dense mats that hug the forest floor
- Distinctive flattened, scale-like leaves arranged in a braided pattern
- Evergreen appearance that persists through winter
- Creeping horizontal stems that can extend several feet
- May produce distinctive cone-like structures on tall stalks (sporangia) in summer
- Typically found in acidic, well-draining woodland soils
Is Groundcedar Beneficial for Your Garden?
Here’s where things get interesting – while groundcedar is undoubtedly beautiful and ecologically important, it’s not really a plant you can simply add to your garden. This ancient species has very specific requirements and forms complex relationships with soil fungi that are nearly impossible to replicate in typical garden settings.
However, if you’re lucky enough to already have groundcedar growing naturally on your property, consider yourself blessed! Here’s why:
- Provides year-round evergreen ground cover in woodland areas
- Helps prevent soil erosion on slopes and banks
- Creates habitat for small woodland creatures
- Adds unique texture and ancient character to natural landscapes
- Indicates healthy, undisturbed woodland ecosystem
Growing Conditions and Hardiness
Groundcedar thrives in USDA hardiness zones 2-6, preferring the cooler climates of northern regions. In terms of wetland status, it’s quite adaptable – classified as facultative in some regions and facultative upland in others, meaning it can handle both wetland and non-wetland conditions, though it typically prefers well-draining sites.
The plant favors:
- Partial to full shade conditions
- Acidic, well-draining soils
- Cool, moist environments
- Sandy or rocky soil types
- Undisturbed woodland settings
A Word of Caution for Gardeners
While it might be tempting to try transplanting groundcedar or purchasing it for your garden, this ancient plant is notoriously difficult to establish outside its natural habitat. It depends on specific mycorrhizal fungi relationships and can take decades to become established. Instead of attempting cultivation, the best approach is to appreciate and protect any naturally occurring groundcedar on your property.
If you’re drawn to the low, evergreen carpet effect that groundcedar provides, consider native alternatives that are more garden-friendly, such as wild ginger, wintergreen, or native sedges, depending on your region.
The Bottom Line
Groundcedar is a remarkable piece of our planet’s botanical history – a living link to ancient forests that covered the earth millions of years ago. While it’s not a practical choice for most garden settings, discovering and protecting this species in its natural woodland habitat is a privilege. If you encounter groundcedar during woodland walks or on your property, take a moment to appreciate this incredible survivor that has been carpeting forest floors since long before humans walked the earth!
