Description
Pachysandra –
There are 4 or 5 , evergreen or semi evergreen perennials and subshrubs in the Boxwood family, in this genus. They occur in woodlands in Eastern Asia and North America. They have often rhizome like, fleshy green stems and upright branches with whorls of 2-4″, oblong, smooth edged or coarsely toothed, gray to deep green leaves. It bears terminal or axillary spikes of small, scented, unisexual, petalless flowers in spring or early summer. They are useful as a groundcover in a shrub border or woodland garden.
Grow in any soil but very dry, preferably enriched with humus, in full to partial shade. The more light the more water they need. Divide in spring.
Prone to leaf spot, dieback, stem rot, and damage by snails and slugs.
P. terminalis – Japanese Spurge – This spreading, evergreen perennial from Northern China and Japan is the most commonly grown and slowly grows 10″ tall with an 24″ inch spread. It produces obovate, coarsely toothed, leathery, glossy, dark green leaves edged in white, to 4″ long, clusters at the ends of the shoots. In early summer it bears tiny, white, sometimes pink or purple tinted, male flowers in spikes, up to 1 1/4″ long.
Zones 4-8
