Pachysandra procumbens
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Common Name: Allegheny spurge
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Buxaceae
Zone: 5 to 9
Native Range: Southeastern United States
Height: 0.5 to 1 feet
Spread: 1 to 2 feet
Bloom Time: March to April
Bloom Color: White
Bloom Description: White
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers, Fragrant Flowers
Tolerates: Drought, Dense Shade
Uses: Groundcover, Will Naturalize

Culture

Best grown in acidic, organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Plants thrive in sun dappled shade under large trees. Foliage tends to bleach when grown in too much sun. Established plants tolerate drought. For use as a ground cover, set starter plants 6-12" apart. Plants will slowly spread by rhizomes to form colonies. Avoid overhead watering and thin plants periodically to promote good air circulation, particularly if plants have experienced problems with leaf blight. Propagate by root division or cuttings.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Pachysandra procumbens, commonly known as Allegheny spurge, is a shrubby, ground cover which grows 8-12" tall and spreads indefinitely by rhizomes to form a dense carpet of matte blue-green leaves mottled with purple and white. It is native to woodlands from North Carolina and Kentucky south to Florida and Texas. Ovate to suborbicular leaves (to 3" long) are coarsely toothed at the apex but untoothed at the base. Leaves are typically deciduous in USDA Zones 5 and 6 but semi-evergreen to evergreen in Zones 7 to 9. Even where evergreen, the leaves may appear worn and tattered by mid winter. Tiny, fragrant, greenish white to white flowers bloom in terminal spikes (2-4" long) in early spring before the new leaves arrive. Genus name comes from the Greek words pachys (thick) and andros (male) in reference to the male parts of the flower (thick stamens). Specific epithet from Latin means trailing in reference to the rhizomatous ground cover habit.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Leaf blight is a potentially serious problem which can necessitate remedial fungicide applications. Root/stem rot may also occur. Watch for aphids, slugs, scale and mites.

Garden Uses

Popular ground cover for a variety of shady locations in the landscape including areas under trees, foundations, around shrubs or along walkways. Mass on banks or slopes. Woodland gardens. Native plant gardens.

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