This pachysandra can grow in a range of soils, as long as it’s not too dry and not in too much sun. It can be divided in the spring. When planting initially, plant 6 to 12 inches apart, as plants will fill in. They can be prone to leaf blight, so water with a soaker hose instead of a sprinkler, and don’t let plants get overcrowded.
This evergreen native to eastern North America is an alternative ground cover to the nonnative English ivy and the invasive Pachysandra terminalis.
ZONES: 5–9
BLOOM TIME: Late spring
LIGHT: Partial shade to full shade
HEIGHT: 6–12 inches
INTEREST: Very small, fragrant white flowers on spikes before leaf-out in spring
Use Allegheny pachysandra as a ground cover in shady woodland gardens, in dappled shade under trees, and along walkways. It’s a useful choice for a location that needs a deer-resistant and drought-resistant plant.