Plant library · Groundcovers
Pachysandra terminalis
Pachysandra is a low, evergreen perennial groundcover that makes a dense carpet in deep shade, especially beneath trees where lawn struggles. It stays about 9 inches tall while spreading to roughly 18 inches wide, so it reads as a continuous planting layer rather than a distinct clump. Use it in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9 where year-round foliage can define the floor of a shaded bed.
Lay pachysandra across broad, shaded areas rather than using it as a single specimen. It suits the ground plane beneath established trees, along shaded foundations, around shrubs, and beside low-traffic walkways. Keep the planting edge back from paths far enough to preserve a clean circulation line as the colony fills in. Its low profile lets taller shade plants remain visible behind it, while the evergreen cover gives bare soil a finished appearance through winter.[1][2]
Set plants 12 inches apart, center to center, for an even grid that closes into a carpet. Each plant can spread about 18 inches wide, so neighboring plants will overlap as they mature; reserve the full bed area instead of treating each plant as a permanent 1-foot island. Use a straight grid along foundations and paths, or stagger the same spacing across wider beds to avoid visible rows. Leave a reachable edge for occasional thinning.
Place pachysandra in full shade and provide regular water, particularly while a new planting is knitting together. A moist, well-drained, organic soil supports reliable coverage under a tree canopy. Avoid exposed sunny positions: foliage can bleach in strong sun, and shaded conditions are central to its use as a groundcover. Avoid overhead watering where practical, and retain enough access to inspect and thin dense patches if needed.[1][2]
Evergreen foliage keeps the planting visually occupied outside the flowering period, making it useful where a shaded bed would otherwise look empty in winter. Small flowers arrive from early to mid-spring, but the plant’s primary design role is the persistent, low green cover. Plan any more seasonal shade perennials so their emerging growth can rise above the carpet rather than being hidden within it.
Give pachysandra a contained planting zone with a clear boundary from beds that need frequent reworking. It spreads by rhizomes and can form broad colonies, making removal from an established area more laborious than simple edging. Dense growth also benefits from periodic thinning for air movement, especially where leaf-blight problems have occurred. Do not use it where the intended design requires open soil between individual plants.[1][2]
Editorial content updated 2026-07-20.