Allegheny spurge
Pachysandra procumbens

Family: Buxaceae

What it is like

Pachysandra procumbens is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 0.3

Where it is found

Woodland with acid, well drained soils in shade or semi-shade.

Native to the southeast United States from West Virginia and Kentucky south to Florida, and west to Louisiana.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

USA

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 3

A low to medium density groundcover for shady areas especially with acid soils. Good for woodland gardening.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Ground Cover: Ground Cover

How it is grown

An evergreen subshrub making a good groundcover. Leaves are typically deciduous in USDA Zones 5 and 6 but semi-evergreen to evergreen in Zones 7 to 9. Performs well in a variety of soils from moist to dry and a range of soil pH as long as it is growing in partial to full shade. Spreads indefinitely by rhizomes to form a dense carpet of matte blue-green leaves. Prefers well-draining, organic-rich soil that is mildly acidic 5.5-6.5 pH. Drought resistant over time. Flowers are fragrant white (staminate) showing in early spring. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length . Flower: Showy, Fragrant

Propagating it: Propagate by root division in August or September. By softwood cuttings in spring, or by layering.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 5-8

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Allegheny pachysandra, Allegheny spurge

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.