Pachysandra terminalis

Pachysandra terminalis is a shade-loving, evergreen groundcover forming a dense, weed-suppressing carpet of glossy green leaves. Short spikes of small white flowers appear in spring above the foliage. Ideal for underplanting trees and shrubs and creating year-round cover in shaded borders, it thrives in partial to full shade in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil, and once established it tolerates dry shade—making it a reliable, low-maintenance choice for Irish gardens.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Partial to full shade

Rate of Growth: Moderate, steadily spreading

Soil: Moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil

Hardiness: Fully hardy in Ireland

Plant at a Glance