Japanese-spurge

Pachysandra terminalis

Found in persistent after cultivation, and spreading vegetatively to adjacent forests; commonly cultivated, persistent to naturalized via rhizomatous spread. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height: 6 inches–1 foot
Spread: 1–1.5 feet
Light: Deep shade, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

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Pachysandra terminalis — bloom photograph — Kurt Stüber [1] · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original photograph

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Sun: Dappled sunlight, Deep shade, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: White.
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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Leaves: Evergreen
Bloom: June to October

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Recorded in 6 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Forests and woodlands

Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

—CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Buxaceae
Hardiness: Zones 4a–9b
Soil pH: Acidic
Flower color: White
Growth rate: Slow
Growth habit: Spreads by rhizomes
Foliage color: Dark green

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “June to October” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “White” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Foliage color · “Dark green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Spreads by rhizomes” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Slow” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 4a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “6 inches–1 foot” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Leaves · “Evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Deep shade (less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
primary_flower_color · “white” · USDA PLANTS
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “1–1.5 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Japanese spurge

Conservation status

Virginia rank	Not available
Global rank	GNR
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source