How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Pachysandra Terminalis

Although this plant is botanically known as Pachysandra terminalis, its more common name is Japanese spurge, and it makes an absolutely fantastic ground cover. It’s a herbaceous perennial that makes excellent ground cover. You can quickly grow it as a classic shady area cover.

If you’re looking to cover up an area in your backyard or a shady zone in your garden, Japanese pachysandra is one of the classic options to consider. However, it is an invasive species in eastern and northeastern North America.

In that vein, those living in the areas where the plant is an invasive species should consider not planting it at all, or at least planting in containers, monitoring its potential spread, and controlling it when it gets out of bounds.

Now, let’s discuss the ins and outs of caring for Japanese spurge!

Plant Overview

Plant Type Ground cover Family Buxaceae Genus Pachysandra Species Pachysandra terminalis	Native Area China and Japan Exposure Partial shade Height 6-12” Watering Requirements Moderate	Pests & Diseases Leaf blight, stem and root rot Maintenance Low Soil Type Well-draining, rich Hardiness Zone 5-9

What is Pachysandra Terminalis?

Belonging to the boxwood family, Buxaceae, Japanese pachysandra is a slow-growing perennial that remains evergreen year-round. It is low-growing, with a height and spread of about 12″ x 18″.

Native Area

This Japanese, Korean and Chinese-native plant is slow growing, which means you don’t have to worry about it taking up more space that you intend it to… always a potential worry with a ground cover.

Characteristics

When the flowers bloom in March and April, they’re a gorgeous, yet simple white. Contrasted against the glossy green foliage and creeping stems, it’s not a statement ground cover, but it’s an effective and efficient shade option.

As it grows throughout the years, Japanese spurge will become a dense cover. Because it’s so suited to climates in the eastern and northeastern parts of North America, it spreads rapidly, pushing out native species and greatly changing the soil composition as it grows.

That being said, if you live in Virginia and Washington DC, opt to grow it in a container or don’t grow it, and choose another ground cover plant like partridge berry or Allegheny spurge.

Planting

Prepare the soil by loosening it to a depth of about six to eight inches and mix in compost or leaf mold for added nutrients. Plant cuttings or young plants about eight to twelve inches apart, as they will spread and fill in the gaps over time. Dig a small hole for each plant, deep enough to accommodate its root ball, place the plant in the hole, and backfill with soil. Water thoroughly after planting and keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged until the plants establish. Applying a layer of mulch around the plants can help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Once established, Pachysandra terminalis requires minimal maintenance and will form a dense, lush carpet of green foliage that thrives in shady spots.

How to Grow

Being tolerant of both shade and drought, the pachysandra plant is easy to care for. You can grow it in clay soil or dry soil in USDA zones 5-9 easily. It will form a dense shrubby mat, even with less watering and limited to no access to direct sunlight.

Light

As mentioned, Pachysandra terminalis has excellent tolerance to shade. Not all ground covers can grow in shade and often die due to limited light access. In fact, if the foliage gets too much direct sunlight, it can actually turn yellow.

Water

This ground cover requires low to medium watering. Water the plant to keep the soil moist, but make sure there is good drainage. Standing water will expose the roots and stem to fungal attacks and rotting. Also, it’s best to avoid overhead watering, as it can put your plant at undue risk for disease.

Keeping the soil damp will provide adequate moisture for the humidity this plant enjoys. Due to its ground covering nature, you shouldn’t have to water often.

Soil

Like many plants, it’s going to want a rich, well-draining soil. If you need to amend your native soil because it’s devoid of nutrients or simply heavy clay soil, you can add a bit of compost to improve it.

Overall, you don’t need to stress much about the soil – it can handle a wide range of soil pH, as well as soil texture. Container-grown plants (for those who live in areas where the plant is an aggressive or invasive species) grow well in basic potting soil.

Temperature

Once established, Japanese spurge can withstand high heat and drought. The same goes for cold. Young plants need ample protection from both extremes, as they can die back, or take on damage in high heat or freezes.

Fertilizer

Pachysandra ground cover grows well with regular applications of organic fertilizer. You can use a balanced fertilizer in the spring when new growth begins and taper off as fall approaches. Make sure you fertilize at the soil surface, or give it a rinse if you apply overhead. If amending a larger area before transplanting, use one to two pounds of a balanced organic fertilizer per 100 square feet.

However, you should avoid fertilizing when your plant is already established and producing rhizomatic roots. Also, avoid fertilization in the eastern and northeastern parts of North America, as this can become invasive.

Maintenance

Japanese pachysandra can be invasive in nature. Outside the eastern and northeastern parts of North America, you don’t need to prune it back unless you feel it’s getting a bit too overgrown for its space. You can trim it to shape for aesthetic reasons, however.

In areas where you’d like to remove the plant, you should dig it up, roots and all. Continue to dig up any sprouts that come up at the beginning of the growing season.

Propagation

Propagation is easy. You can do so by root cuttings and transplanting clumps. You can also grow newer sets of pachysandra by removing the seedlings from the older ground cover and planting them in the potting soil. Propagation may not be desirable in overrun gardens where the plant has gotten out of bounds.

Common Problems

Pest-wise, you’ll rarely face any serious problems with your spurge plant. It’s a fantastic ground cover for deer, as they tend not to like munching on it. It’s tolerant of drought and also helps with erosion control, making it a great slope or bank planting option.

However, here are a few things to watch out for.

Growing Problems

Direct sunlight causes leaves to yellow, too much water can cause stress, and young plants are more susceptible to damage by temperature extremes.

Plants that make their way out of the garden bed should be controlled.

Diseases

You’ll only face growing problems and diseases in your Pachysandra ground cover if you don’t maintain consistent watering frequency or choose soil with poor drainage. Overwatering and planting in soil that holds too much water will result stem and root rotting. Leaf blight can be a serious problem.

Pests

Keep an eye out for different types of scale insects and mites. If you see any of these pests on your plant, treat with neem oil.

Frequently Asked Question