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Allegheny Spurge Pachysandra procumbens

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
pak-ih-SAN-drah pro-KUM-benz
Description

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:
Tags:
#evergreen#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#semi-evergreen#shade garden#lawn alternative#spring flowers#NC native#groundcover#native wildflower#food source summer#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#food source hard mast fruit#Audubon#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#semi-evergreen#shade garden#lawn alternative#spring flowers#NC native#groundcover#native wildflower#food source summer#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#food source hard mast fruit#Audubon#wildlife friendly
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is small dry capsules, seldom produced in any quantity. Not ornamentally important.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Predatory Insects
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Heat