For shady spots where grass won’t grow, count on Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) to provide the green carpet you crave. This perennial evergreen thrives in deep or light shade. It adapts readily to island beds with shrubs, dry shade beneath trees or planting areas near buildings.
What happens to pachysandra in the winter?
The evergreen leaves of pachysandra commonly “burn” and turn brown when grown in sunny, exposed places during the winter. Pachysandra is a low and compact plant and almost foolproof when planted in the right location. It forms a solid mass of glossy foliage about 6″ – 8″ high.
Will pachysandra spread on its own?
Pachysandra usually grows between 6 and 12 inches high, and in early spring the plant blooms. … The plant actually spreads by underground runners, and it is true that a light shearing or pinching in early spring can encourage the plants to send up more runners and thus thicken the planting faster.
Which is better vinca or pachysandra?
Vinca minor spreads even faster than pachysandra, and although lilies, tulips, and other bulbs can freely penetrate its dense green mat, few weeds can. … Vinca is slightly more tolerant of sun than pachysandra. If you already have vinca on your property, you can transplant clumps about 15 inches apart.
Should you rake leaves out of pachysandra?
In areas where the pachysandra appears to be thin, try raking off the leaf cover to reveal the spaghetti-like root system underneath. This uncovering may be all that is needed to free the pachysandra and encourage it to grow. The raked-off leaves should not be considered garden waste either.
What is the best time to plant pachysandra?
Pachysandra should be planted in the early spring or early fall. It most commonly thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9, depending on the variety. Pachysandra prefers full shade and deepens in color when it’s out of the harsh sunlight.
Can you grow pachysandra in the sun?
Shade-loving plants like pachysandra can usually tolerate some direct sunlight each day, as long as the sun exposure is not prolonged. … The affected leaves will die sooner than unaffected leaves, but occasional sunscald does not usually kill vigorous plants like pachysandra.
How much Pachysandra do I need?
The closer together you plant the Pachysandra, the faster it will fill in. I typically advise 3 to 4 plants per square foot.
Will Pachysandra choke out other plants?
Benefits of Pachysandra terminalis
Pachysandra also provides wonderful weed control. Since this plant grows and spreads to form a dense ground cover, it discourages the development of weeds. This plant certainly manages to choke out competing weeds once it becomes established.
Does Pachysandra stay green in winter?
I’m not talking about pachysandra and myrtle, though these two common groundcovers do stay green throughout the winter. … This fully evergreen groundcover is very hardy and comes in a broad range of foliage colors and textures.
Will pachysandra grow in dry shade?
Pachysandra. Also called Japanese spurge, pachysandra thrives in full shade and reliably stays evergreen through freezing winters. It forms tidy mats of green leaves that will spread to fill a large area like a slope over time.
How many plants are in a flat of pachysandra?
Divide the 77.5 square feet of bed by . 45 square feet per plant for a total of 172 pachysandra plants. Pachysandra is commonly sold in flats of 24, so you would need seven flats of plants to fill the bed on 8-inch planting centers.
Is pachysandra green carpet invasive?
Pachysandra terminalis species is native to Japan. It is considered an exotic invasive in some U.S. states. Find where this species is invasive in the United States.
How long does Pachysandra last?
The drawback is that it is unsightly, and it takes three months to a year to completely kill the plants. Plants in shady areas require the most time.
How tall does Pachysandra get?
Pachysandra terminalis, commonly called Japanese pachysandra, is a shrubby, evergreen ground cover which grows 8-12″ high and spreads by rhizomes to form a dense carpet of rich, dark green foliage. Oval leaves (2-4″ long) appear primarily in whorls at the stem ends.
Will deer eat Pachysandra?
They generally eat conifers in the winter and flowering perennials in the spring and summer. … For example, near Valley Forge Park in PA where deer density is high and food availability is low, deer will even eat pachysandra and holy bushes after they’ve devoured all of the hemlocks and arbravitae.
How do you get pachysandra to fill in?
Fertilize, Water, and Thin
Not only will this help promote good color, but it will help thinner areas to fill in. Plus, plants with nutrient deficiencies often are more susceptible to disease. Be sure to water your pachysandra during drought. Do this in the early morning.
Why is my pachysandra Brown?
Spread of the Volutella fungus within a bed of pachysandra is by means of fungal spores. Infections can occur at any time in the growing season. … Volutella will progress from the leaves down to the stems, and infected stems will also become dark brown to black in color and die, and large patches of plants can be killed.
Will pachysandra grow under a pine tree?
Pachysandra is the only satisfactory plant that will grow as a ground cover under Pine Trees. This plant is used extensively under large spreading trees, back of buildings or in other situations too shady for grass to grow.
Is pachysandra a good ground cover?
Pachysandra is a favorite ground cover plant in hard-to-plant areas such as under trees, or in shady areas with poor or acidic soil. Unlike other plants, pachysandra ground cover does not mind competing for its nutrients, and growing pachysandra plants is easy if you have an abundance of shade in your landscape.