Back to plants
Dense carpet of Japanese Spurge with glossy green foliage under treesGround cover

Pachysandra terminalis

Japanese Spurge

pachysandraground coverevergreendry shadelow-maintenance

Japanese Spurge is a reliable evergreen ground cover with rosette-shaped, glossy dark-green foliage and modest white flower spikes in April and May. The plant forms a dense, uniform carpet via runners and is the ideal solution for dry shade under trees. Japanese Spurge is extremely hardy.

Want to see Japanese Spurge in your garden?

1 minute, no credit card

Start free design
Free design

Want to see Japanese Spurge in your garden? Make a free design now.

Upload a photo, pick a style, and get a photorealistic design with plant list in under a minute.

See your garden free

400+ gardens designed already

No credit card required

Before
After

Characteristics

Sun
Full shade, Partial shade
Water
Medium
Height
15–30 cm
Spread
40–80 cm
Hardiness zone
5–9
Family
Buxaceae
Evergreen
Yes
Flower colors
white

Bloom period

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Care guide

Plant in full to partial shade in humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil. The plant copes well with root competition under trees. Apply a layer of compost or leaf mould annually. Water regularly in the first year; after that the plant is self-sufficient.

Pruning tips

Pruning is rarely needed. Remove any withered leaves in early spring. For overgrown patches, use a spade to edge the borders and limit spreading.

Good companions

Blue-purple flower spikes of bugleweed as ground cover in shadeGround cover

Ajuga reptans

Bugleweed

Bugleweed is a robust ground cover that spreads rapidly through runners. From April to June, dense spikes of blue-purple flowers rise above the dark green, glossy foliage. The plant is evergreen and forms a continuous carpet within a single growing season.

Partial shadeMedium10–20 cm
Blue-purple flowers of Lesser Periwinkle among glossy green leavesGround cover

Vinca minor

Lesser Periwinkle

Lesser Periwinkle is an evergreen ground cover with glossy dark-green foliage and abundant blue-purple flowers from March to June. The plant forms a dense carpet that effectively suppresses weeds and is ideal under trees and shrubs. Periwinkle is extremely hardy and tolerates deep shade.

Partial shadeLow10–20 cm
Large blue-green hosta leaves in a shaded gardenPerennials

Hosta sieboldiana

Hosta

Hosta is the quintessential shade plant, valued for its large, blue-green, ribbed leaves. Light purple or white bell-shaped flowers appear on tall stems in July and August. Over the years the plant forms substantial clumps that give a shaded border a lush character.

Full shadeMedium50–90 cm