Pachysandra T. ‘Green Carpet’ 3"

Latin Name: Pachysandra terminalis 'Green Carpet'

Common Name: Green Carpet Japanese Spurge

Zones: 4–8 (sometimes listed to zone 9)

Height & Spread: 6–8 inches tall, spreading 12–18 inches wide (colonizes to form extensive, indefinite patches)

Descriptive Features: A compact, more refined selection of the classic Japanese spurge, valued for its denser, lower-growing habit and smaller, more tightly whorled leaves than the straight species — resulting in a neater, more uniform, carpet-like appearance, true to its name. Glossy, dark green, toothed evergreen leaves are arranged in attractive rosettes atop short, upright stems, providing reliable year-round groundcover even through winter in milder climates. In early to mid-spring, inconspicuous, fragrant, small white flower spikes appear just above the foliage, adding a subtle touch of early-season interest and providing nectar for early pollinators, though the foliage remains the plant's primary appeal. Spreads steadily via underground rhizomes to knit together into a dense, weed-suppressing mat over a few seasons, making it one of the most reliable groundcovers for difficult dry shade beneath trees and shrubs where turfgrass and many other plants struggle. Deer- and rabbit-resistant, low-maintenance, and long-lived once established, though it can be susceptible to Volutella blight in poorly ventilated or overly wet conditions. An excellent choice for shaded groundcover, foundation plantings, woodland gardens, or slope stabilization in part shade to full shade with average to moist, well-drained soil.