Pachysandra terminalis 'COMPACTA' Japanese spurge

If you are looking for a great looking, ideally evergreen groundcover we have a tip for you: Japanese spurge. This perennial makes thick, partially woody stems when old, and keeps its deep green foliage all year round. The leaves are obovate and coarsely toothed.

Compacta is a variety with lower growth but equal foliage size compared to the species. It forms almost flat carpets of evergreen leaves, even under trees that cast deep shade. It easily fills a space with spreading roots but grows slowly and is not invasive. It can easily be clipped and kept in the designated area.

Its height of 10-20 cm makes it a good solution as a lawn substitute in shaded places. Pachysandra takes shade much better than full sun where its leaves commonly turn yellow, especially in winter. The soil has to be well-drained, moist and acidic or neutral. Good hardiness to -30°C and is supposed to survive down to -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 19-02-2013