Allegheny Spurge Pachysandra procumbens
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- pak-ih-SAN-drah pro-KUM-benz
- Description
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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. Its natural environment includes moist rich woods. It is not invasive. The new leaves take on a pale silver-green mottling. Fragrant blooms occur in spring in 2-4 inch spikes.
Set plants 6-12 inches apart and do not overwater. Soak the planting every 8-15 days. It will provide you with a lovely evergreen ground cover for many years. Prune as needed to remove yellow or dead growth.
NC Endangered species; present as a native plant in only 1 NC county.
No common serious problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pachysandra
- Species:
- procumbens
- Family:
- Buxaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern North America
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is small dry capsules, seldom produced in any quantity. Not ornamentally important.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Spikes of pink and white fragrant flowers in March to April
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Orbicular
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2-4 in. bluish-green, simple, alternate, ovate to rounded evergreen leaves are held in the whorled cluster at the tip of shoots. They are toothed above the middle with silver mottling in fall.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Predatory Insects
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
