About
Pachysandra term. 'Green Carpet' is an evergreen ground cover in the boxwood family Buxaceae and a named selection of the genus Pachysandra. It forms a low mat with weakly woody stems and alternate, leathery leaves typically in the 5–10 cm range. Small greenish-white flowers appear in April to May on short spikes above the foliage. The habit and shade tolerance make it primarily useful for covering bare soil under trees and in shaded borders.
About the genus
Pachysandra is a genus of five species of evergreen perennials or subshrubs, belonging to the boxwood family Buxaceae. The species are native to eastern Asia and southeast North America, some reaching a height of 20–45 cm (7.9–17.7 in), with only weakly woody stems. The leaves are alternate, leathery, with a coarsely toothed margin, and are typically 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) long.
Wikipedia contributors, "Pachysandra", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Pachysandra
In the garden
Pachysandra term. 'Green Carpet' belongs to the genus Pachysandra within the boxwood family Buxaceae and carries the evergreen habit common to members of that group. Species in the genus occur naturally in eastern Asia and parts of North America, and plants tend to remain low to the ground, producing short, weakly woody stems and alternate leathery leaves approximately 5–10 cm long. Place 'Green Carpet' where light is limited: it performs where many other perennials struggle, making it suitable for deep shade, shaded borders and beneath trees or large shrubs. It spreads to form a mat and is typically used to suppress bare soil; the small greenish-white flower spikes appear in April to May and are modest compared with the foliage. Plant into prepared soil that has been cleared of competing weeds; once established it fills gaps between perennials and around the bases of shrubs. Keep an eye on vigorous tree roots close to the surface, which can hinder its spread. The cultivar's evergreen leaves provide year-round ground cover and the April–May flowers are a seasonal detail rather than the main reason to use it.
