Groundcover
Japanese spurge
Pachysandra terminalis
An evergreen groundcover with glossy leaves and small white flower spikes. It forms spreading mats in shade, but needs boundaries and is unsuitable near natural areas where it is invasive.
- Size
- 0.15–0.3 m high · 1–1.5 m wide
- Light
- Partial shade / Full shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Winter
- Hardy
- Seasonal form
- Evergreen
- Maintenance
- Low
Before planting
- Choose shade or partial shade and humus-rich, well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Avoid very dry ground and persistent waterlogging.
- Shoots are usually 15–30 cm tall. A mat can spread 1–1.5 m across over several years and continue expanding; that width is not a permanent boundary.
Why choose it
- Glossy evergreen leaves form a low carpet beneath shrubs and trees, keeping shaded beds green outside the flowering season.
- Small white flower spikes appear from spring to early summer, depending on climate; foliage provides the main display.
Care
- Keep newly planted root zones moist while roots establish. Water established mats in prolonged dry spells, especially where tree roots compete for moisture.
- Weed gaps until the carpet closes. Trim or lift shoots spreading beyond the intended area.
- If leaf blight develops, remove affected growth and debris, thin crowded stems and water the soil rather than wetting the leaves.
Good to know
- In Maryland, USA, extension guidance discourages planting it, especially near natural areas, because it can spread into them. Check local guidance elsewhere.
- Strong sun and drying winter winds can damage evergreen leaves. Choose a sheltered position on exposed sites.