Japanese Pachysandra plant profile
Pachysandra terminalis
A perennial ornamental for shade.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Japanese Pachysandra
Japanese pachysandra is a broadleaf-evergreen groundcover for shade that spreads by rhizomes into large colonies under trees, with small white flower spikes in early spring (NC State). Plant plugs 6 to 12 inches apart in spring or fall in moist, slightly acidic, well-drained shade; it bleaches in full sun, and an established cover takes about three years to fill in.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Japanese Pachysandra in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Shade
- Soil pH
- 5 to 6
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 6 to 12 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 4a to 9bFind my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: leaf blight, scale, aggressive spreading.
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese Pachysandra, Japanese Spurge, Carpet Box)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.