Distinguished from other running clubmosses by its individual cones on short stems. Roots adventitious, arising from the underside of the prostrate stem.
Sites typically cool and shaded but occasionally dry, exposed, and rocky.
Soils acidic, well to poorly drained. Occurrence of Stiff Clubmoss increases with increasing latitude. Shade tolerant, occurring in mature forests throughout its range. Stiff clubmoss spores develop from late July to early October Coniferous, northern hardwoods, and mixed hardwoods habitats. Characteristic of boreal coniferous forests.