Pachysandra terminalis 'Green Carpet' is a dense evergreen groundcover prized for its glossy dark green foliage and ability to thrive in deep shade. This Japanese spurge cultivar is slower growing but forms tight mats that suppress weeds making it ideal for underplanting trees or covering difficult shaded areas with poor soil.
Height & Spread: 6 - 10 in x 12 - 18 in
Bloom Time: Early spring
Light Requirements: Part shade to full shade
Soil Preference: Moist, well drained, slightly acidic soil
Watering Needs: Low once established; keep moist during establishment period
Deer Resistance: Unpalatable to deer due to leathery foliage and mild toxicity
Native Status
This plant is native to Japan and parts of China. It is not native to North America but is commonly used in shade gardens and underplantings for its durability and evergreen appeal.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Beneficial Insects
- Provides shelter for ground beetles and predatory insects that help control pest populations in shaded garden beds.
Birds
- Dense matting provides protected cover for ground nesting birds such as song sparrows and towhees in woodland landscapes.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 12 - 18 in apart to encourage matting and uniform groundcover establishment over time.
Landscape Placement:
- Ideal for shaded foundation beds, beneath shrubs and trees, or in difficult dry shade locations where turfgrass fails.
Companion Plants
- Epimedium x perralchicum 'Frohnleiten' - Semi evergreen heart shaped leaves and yellow spring blooms brighten shady areas.
- Ferns (Dryopteris erythrosora) - Bronze flushed new fronds offer early seasonal contrast above Pachysandra mats.
- Heuchera 'Obsidian' - Deep purple glossy leaves create a bold color pairing with the green Pachysandra.
- Carex pensylvanica - Native sedge with fine arching blades adds movement and ecological benefit in shade.
- Hosta 'Patriot' - Variegated foliage contrasts well with the dark green spurge and adds layered height.