Pachysandra Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995, pp.606–607. is a genus of five species of evergreen perennials or subshrubs, belonging to the boxwood family Buxaceae. The species are native 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 words (, 'thick') and , genitive (, genitive , "man"), and is a reference to the thick stamens.Backer, C.A. (1936). Verklarend woordenboek der wetenschappelijke namen van de in Nederland en Nederlandsch-Indië in het wild groeiende en in tuinen en parken gekweekte varens en hoogere planten (Edition Nicoline van der Sijs).
Species Pachysandra axillaris - China Pachysandra coriacea (sometimes classified as Sarcococca coriacea) - India, Nepal, Myanmar Pachysandra procumbens - Allegheny Pachysandra (southeast United States) Pachysandra stylosa - China (sometimes treated as a variety of P. axillaris2b. Pachysandra axillaris var. stylosa (Dunn) M. Cheng, Flora of China) Pachysandra terminalis - China, Japan, GRIN Taxonomy for Plants3. Pachysandra A. Michaux, Flora of China
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:
The most commonly used species is P. terminalis, or Japanese spurge, which is an aggressively spreading evergreen ground cover. 'Variegata' has leaves attractively variegated green and creamy white, with a slower growth/spreading rate as P. terminalis. 'Green Sheen' Pachysandra has extra glossy dark green leaves and slowly spreads. '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.
References
External links