Plant Health Problems Diseases caused by Fungi: Volutella blight, Volutella pachysandrae. They prefer moist soil, well-amended with organic matter. Plant height is 9 to 12 inches, and leaf length is 3 to 5 inches. Holes for new plants should be 4 inches (10 cm.) When Pachysandra is planted under the required growth conditions like partial to full shade, it will thrive up to a height of about 10 inches tall. It grows 6-8" high (sometimes even 12”) and spreads by rhizomes to form a dense carpet of rich, dark green foliage. Read on for information on removing pachysandra ground cover. Pruning the plant, which in fact does not grow to be like a plant, needs special care. Bob Polomski, ©2019, Clemson University. When to Plant Pachysandra Spring and fall are the best times to add pachysandra to your garden. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. This plant is used extensively under large spreading trees, back of buildings or in other situations too shady for grass to grow. Although vigorous, the plant rarely ventures past garden boundaries and into lawns. Pachysandra can withstand occasional dryness, but does best when it is kept moist. Shade provided by a building, fence or evergreen will prevent pachysandra from winter “burn” that turns the leaves brown. Pachysandra is the only satisfactory plant that will grow as a ground cover under Pine Trees. You can encourage the plants to form more dense growth by clipping the tips of the vigorous stems in the spring. Pachysandra prefers soil that is moist and amended with rich organic matter. Pruning helps its growth. Pachysandra plants are a favorite evergreen ground-cover that grows well in hard-to-plant areas, such as under trees or in shady areas with poor or acidic soil. Successfully controlling the spread of pachysandra involves a series of both manual and chemical control methods. Planting pachysandra now? You may need to prune it in five or six years. It is often associated with scale infestations. … If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at hgic@clemson.edu or 1-888-656-9988. It is under a large tulip tree. Clusters of tiny, off-white blossoms appear above the leaves in March and April. Placing a light mulch around the plants will help maintain optimum moisture levels, and that also helps keep down weeds. Oval leaves (2-4" long) appear primarily in whorls at the stem ends. Pachysandra, occasionally called Japanese spurge, spreads quickly by underground runners and makes a superb replacement for struggling lawns in shady areas. It prefers soil that has a pH on the acidic side, but it will tolerate soil in the neutral to alkaline range. Pachysandra, also called Japanese spurge, is an evergreen ground cover that looks like a great idea when you plant it–after all, it stays green year round and spreads quickly to fill an area.Unfortunately, this aggressive plant doesn’t know when to stop. Rake the top 12 inches of your soil and mix in a couple inches of compost or peat moss which make the soil more conducive to water drainage. Growth Rate: Because of the rhizomatous nature, plants colonize an area aggressively. Plant Type . Does Sedum Autumn Joy Require Acidic Soil? Problems: Japanese spurge may be affected by scale, mites, root-knot nematode or leaf blight. I live in New York City and would like to plant something around our street trees. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates from HGIC. A small patch could be treated with a fungicide early in the season. A fungal disease called Volutella leaf blight can cause damages to both leaves and stems. Because of its low care needs, pachysandra is also a favorite plant for woodland gardens and as a living mulch underneath shrubs or trees. Ensuring that plantings receive good air circulation and are not overcrowded can help keep plants from being susceptible. deep and 6 inches (15 cm.) Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer. The plant … Allegheny spurge does not seem to be as susceptible as Japanese spurge. Sometimes known as Japanese spurge, Pachysandra is a small genus of very dwarf shrubs, popular for over a century for their ability to spread into a dense evergreen carpet beneath other taller shrubs. Japanese Spurge or Pachysandra terminalis: This is one of the most functional plants used in today’s landscape. Pachysandra terminalis, also sometimes called spurge or Japanese pachysandra, is a useful evergreen groundcover for shady spots. It's a vigorous grower. Pachysandra thrives in rich, well-drained soil. My weed-filled lawn is driving me crazy—I’d work harder at it but there simply is too much of it. In areas where walks or driveways are de-iced in winter, pachysandra should be protected from damaging salt exposure. Plant pachysandra in well-drained soil in a location with good air circulation. Pachysandra is tough as well as attractive. And you can grow it in most temperature zones. Pachysandra is considered an invasive plant by the USDA Forest Service because of its rapid growth pattern and ability to overtake other plants. Transplants are usually planted in the spring at a spacing of ½ to 1 foot apart. ‘Green Carpet’ provides a 6- to 8-inch-tall carpet. Plants growing in full sun are more susceptible. The Ohio State University notes that care is necessary when raking fallen tree leaves from pachysandra in the fall, since the semi-woody stems of mature plants are easily snapped. This groundcover was healthy for more than twenty years. Tips on Planting Pachysandra. It is a rapid-growing groundcover. It's a hardy plant, and an ideal groundcover for problem areas, including poor soil and dense shade. Plants are evergreen in South Carolina, although the leaves may look ragged by March. wide. Tuck it into … It spreads horizontally and needs room to roam. Pachysandra plant is a member of the boxwood family and a popular evergreen perennial. It is the best ground cover plant to use under the shade of large spreading trees or to form a fancy dense green blanket shrub. Edge the boundaries of the area where you are planting to prevent spreading. While you try to encourage it to fill in as quickly as possible, keep in mind that pachysandra prefers a moist, rich, slightly acid soil (pH 5.5 to 6.5 is ideal) supplemented with plenty of organic matter. This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement of brand names or registered trademarks by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service is implied, nor is any discrimination intended by the exclusion of products or manufacturers not named. Pachysandra is a slow growth plant. A shrubby evergreen that's about 8 inches tall, it grows as a dense, green carpet that spreads to cover areas in partial or total shade. The plants are adapted to deep or partial shade. Pachysandra terminalis, sometimes also called spurge or Japanese pachysandra, is a perennial plant cover useful for shaded places.Native to Japan and China, the pachysandra is resistant in resistance zones 5 to 9 of the United States Department of Agriculture. But good drainage is key: If soils are too wet, the plant will develop root rot and die. Pachysandra is an easy to grow, lush, shade-tolerant ground cover that many people use to reduce lawn or to fill in places where grass won’t grow. I advise to sprinkle 1/2" peat moss on a new area every 2 weeks, to make it look fresh and to see any weeds that will appear. It has very dark green leaves. Pachysandra, also known as Japanese Spurge, is a perennial evergreen plant that is usually grown as a ground cover. Make sure the planting area is clear from debris before planting and that the soil is loose. Volutella blight is the most destructive disease of pachysandra in the Northeast. Too much sun will cause the plants to become chlorotic, or abnormally yellow. Missouri Botanical Garden: Pachysandra Terminalis, Ohio State University: Pachysandra Terminalis, Clemson Cooperative Extension: Pachysandra, Michigan State University Extension: Abiotic Plant Disorders. Prune back the worst of them. When planted in full sun, growth is poor. Planting notes. It grows 20 to 30 centimeters in height, eventually spreading through the rhizomes to form a green carpet. The leaves are mottled purple and are coarsely toothed towards the apex. Leaves develop irregular tan to brown blotches, often with concentric lighter and darker zones with dark brown margins. Here are some companion plants that thrive in similar growing conditions to pachysandra: Boxwood Hosta Bleeding Heart Astilbe Foxglove Camellia Hardy Kiwi Monkshood Columbine Hydrangea … The closer together you plant the Pachysandra, the faster it will fill in. Pachysandra is one of the few plants that will grow under evergreens and in dense shade. The plants are adapted to deep or partial shade. Pachysandra is used as a groundcover, particularly under trees, where it competes well for the limited sun, nutrients and water. Even shaded areas can be populated and turned green. In general, small pachysandra plants should be planted between 6 and 12 inches apart, but you can plant them more densely if you wish them to fill in an area quickly. Marjan Kluepfel, Former HGIC Horticulture Information Specialist, Clemson UniversityBob Polomski, PhD, Extension Consumer Horticulturist, Clemson University. Pachysandra can be affected by various pests, including mites, scale and root-knot nematode. It’s easiest to weed when the soil is slightly moist, like the day after a rain shower. Pachysandra is a good grower in evenly moist, rich soils. Pachysandra may be a slow starter, but by the third year, it will spread out and create a mass of deep green evergreen foliage. Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. Volutella leaf blight, caused by the fungus Volutella pachysandrae, causes brown blotches on the leaves and a stem blight. If you are looking for beautiful ground cover plants and want to learn how to grow and take care of it, this is the guide you need. Native to Japan and China, pachysandra is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 through 9. The most common reason that people choose Japanese Pachysandra is for ground cover in shaded areas of their garden. How to Grow Pachysandra Terrific Planting Partners. They are toothed towards the tip, 1 to 3 inches long and about half as wide. ‘Green Sheen’ Japanese pachysandra has especially shiny leaves.Bob Polomski, ©2019, Clemson University. Pachysandra terminalis ‘Cutleaf’ has deeply divided lobes that gives it an almost lacy appearance. Pachysandra plants require protection from the sun not only in summer, but in winter as well. Are My Pachysandra Dead if They Are Burned From the Sun? This shade plant is native across parts of Asia and North America and will grow well as long as it is planted in shade. New leaves emerge from the ground on long petioles up to 4 inches long. Soil should be moist and well drained; Pachysandra prefers acidic soils but can tolerate neutral and slightly alkaline soils. Another is as a pest deterrent, and it is particularly popular in areas where deer invade gardens. It can be invasive, so be careful about planting it near areas where you don’t want it to spread. Few ground covers can match Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) for toughness and versatility. So transplant pachysandra to those parts of the garden where other plants fail, for example where the soil is acidic or there are steep slopes. Pachysandra ground cover has evergreen leaves that will burn in the sun. Pachysandra will transform otherwise bare … Mature pachysandra requires about 1 inch of water per week during its period of active growth. Although some people use the plant in their landscapes, it can be difficult to control. Water generously at planting time and regularly for a few weeks afterward to help the plants becomes established. All recommendations for pesticide use are for South Carolina only and were legal at the time of publication, but the status of registration and use patterns are subject to change by action of state and federal regulatory agencies. Gwen Bruno has been a full-time freelance writer since 2009, with her gardening-related articles appearing on DavesGarden. COVID-19 Extension Updates and Resources ... More Information », Factsheet | HGIC 1111 | Published: Jun 7, 1999 | Print, Pachysandra procumbens is a much overlooked native plant. Both leaves and stems are attacked by this fungus. When planting in a sandy, quick-draining soil amending with top soil, organic compost, or peat moss will help to retain moisture and supply vital plant nutrients. Do not cut them to the ground. It is always best to plant on an overcast day and in shady locations. Pachysandra makes the perfect low-maintenance ground cover in shaded areas. Pachysandra is used as a groundcover, particularly under trees, where it competes well for the limited sun, nutrients and water. The creamy white flowers are borne on 1- to 2-inch spikes at the top of the stems. The evergreen leaves of pachysandra commonly “burn” and turn brown when grown in sunny, exposed places during the winter. Clip the tips of vigorously growing shoots in the spring to make the plants more dense. Allegheny Spurge or Pachysandra procumbens: This much overlooked plant is native from Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia to Florida and Louisiana. The pachysandra plant thrives best in full shade. Pachysandra is deer resistant. And since I refuse to … The flower is 4 to 5 inches long. Newly planted pachysandra requires regular watering until the roots are established. Bob Polomski, ©2019, Clemson University. Pachysandra is a beautiful ground cover but it does grow very slowly. 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