Pachysandra carpets the deepest shade under trees where grass simply won't grow, forming a dense, glossy evergreen mat that stays tidy with virtually no care once established.
A workhorse ground cover for shaded slopes and woodland gardens, pachysandra spreads steadily by underground rhizomes, eventually knitting together into a uniform green carpet that suppresses most weeds on its own.
Pachysandra wants shade to deep shade and humus-rich, acidic soil, spreading readily once established to fill in bare ground under trees. It's slow to establish the first year or two but then fills in quickly, needing little beyond an occasional trim to keep edges neat.
Good air circulation and avoiding overly wet, compacted soil helps prevent the fungal leaf blight that can sometimes affect dense plantings of pachysandra.
