Pachysandra, also called Japanese spurge, is an evergreen ground cover that looks like a great idea when you plant it–after all, it stays green year-round and spreads quickly to fill an area. … Pachysandra is an invasive perennial ground cover that spreads throughout the garden by means of underground stems and roots.
Is pachysandra native to North Carolina?
Mountain pachysandra is a native plant in the Buxaceae family. It is native in SE North America. The evergreen to semi-evergreen leaves in zones 7-8 forms a dense mat that happily grows under trees and shrubs and other shady places. … NC Endangered species; present as a native plant in only 1 NC county.
Where is Pachysandra terminalis native to?
Pachysandra terminalis, the Japanese pachysandra, carpet box or Japanese spurge, is a species of flowering plant in the boxwood family Buxaceae, native to Japan, Korea and China and introduced to eastern North America.
Is pachysandra poisonous to humans?
Pachysandra contains no toxic substances and poses no danger for pets and children, according to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Similarly, the plant is not included on the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ list of toxic plants.
Is pachysandra an evergreen native?
Leaves and stems are “evergreen.” Once the new shoots mature, the previous season’s growth disappears. Leaves have scalloped margins and are marbled with silver and purple.
Can you walk on pachysandra?
Pachysandra is a great pick for a border garden. … Using Pachysandra to cover large areas is probably its most common use. But Pachysandra cannot take the trampling of feet or a hard raking, so don’t plant it in an area you’ll need to walk through.
Is pachysandra a native plant?
Origin. Although Japanese pachysandra is a tempting quick-fix choice for hard-to-grow areas, it is not native to the United States. Japanese pachysandra, also known as Japanese spurge, is native to eastern Asia. It was brought to the U.S. as an ornamental groundcover.
What animals eat pachysandra?
Scale Insects
This oblong, white, small scale insect essentially sucks the life out of pachysandra causing it to discolor and die off completely or in large areas. Once the population is heavy it is extremely hard to control.
Does pachysandra overtake grass?
Pachysandra is considered an invasive plant by the USDA Forest Service because of its rapid growth pattern and ability to overtake other plants. … When these methods are used, the pachysandra stays in the desired location and will not spread to overtake surrounding areas.
What grows well with pachysandra?
Here are some companion plants that thrive in similar growing conditions to pachysandra:
- Boxwood.
- Hosta.
- Bleeding Heart.
- Astilbe.
- Foxglove.
- Camellia.
- Hardy Kiwi.
- Monkshood.
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.
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.
Is pachysandra native to New England?
Native to the Southeastern United States and portions of New England, Pachysandra procumbens is uncommon, but forms dense stands where it is found. Unlike Japanese Spurge, Allegheny Spurge spreads rather slowly and will not overrun other plants.
How far apart do you plant pachysandra?
Bare Root Pachysandra When planting pachysandra or Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis) as a groundcover, purchase bare root plants. Space plants 6 to 12 inches apart.
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.
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.
Does pachysandra grow fast?
Pachysandra is a beautiful ground cover but it does grow very slowly. While you try to encourage it to fill in as quickly as possible, keep in mind that pachysandra prefers a moist, rich, slightly acid soil (pH 5.5 to 6.5 is ideal) supplemented with plenty of organic matter.
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.
Does pachysandra come back every year?
This rugged perennial forms dense mats of glistening green foliage. Pachysandra looks good year-round.
Is Ajuga plant invasive?
This member of the mint family spreads fast and can become invasive. Avoid planting too close to flower beds, lawns, or other areas where you’d have to keep removing it. If you’re concerned that ajuga is considered an invasive in your region, visit the Invasive Plant Atlas.
Is Japanese spurge the same as Pachysandra?
Plant taxonomy classifies Japanese pachysandra, also called “Japanese spurge,” as Pachysandra terminalis and as belonging to the boxwood family. These widely grown plants are. … In terms of usage, Japanese pachysandra plants are classified as ground covers.
How much sun can Pachysandra take?
Shade-loving plants like pachysandra can usually tolerate some direct sunlight each day, as long as the sun exposure is not prolonged. Burned leaves are the result of too much sun. The affected leaves will die sooner than unaffected leaves, but occasional sunscald does not usually kill vigorous plants like pachysandra.