Pachysandra [ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995, pp.606–607.] is a genus of five species of evergreen perennial plant or , belonging to the boxwood family Buxaceae. The species are native plant to eastern Asia and southeast North America, some reaching a height of , with only weakly woody stems. The leaves are alternate, leathery, with a coarsely toothed margin, and are typically long. The small uni-sexual blooms are greenish-white and produced in late spring or early summer.
Etymology
Pachysandra is derived from the
Ancient Greek word παχύς (
pachýs, 'thick') and the
Neo-Latin -androus ('of or pertaining to stamens'), and is a reference to the thick
.
[Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. (hardback), (paperback). pp 63, 287]
Species
Cultivation and uses
Pachysandra can grow in deep-shade areas and is thus well-suited and popular as
ground cover for
shade gardens. There are several varieties used in the garden landscape, all of which are deer-resistant:
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The most commonly used species is P. terminalis, or Japanese spurge, which is an aggressively spreading evergreen ground cover.
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'Variegata' has leaves attractively variegated green and creamy white, with a slower growth/spreading rate as P. terminalis.
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'Green Sheen' Pachysandra has extra glossy dark green leaves and slowly spreads.
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'Green Carpet' Pachysandra has deeper semi glossed green leaves than the common P. Terminalis, with prominent veining, more toothed serrations to the leaf edge, and a shorter more compact growth habit.
All species in this genus prefer a well-drained soil with a high humus content.
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