Pachysandra procumbens

Common Names

Allegheny Spurge, Allegheny Pachysandra, Mountain Spurge

Summary

Allegheny spurge is a native North American ground cover in the boxwood family that forms a slow-growing, prostrate carpet by rhizomes, typically 6–12 inches tall and spreading to 12–24 inches wide. Foliage is dark blue-green with pale silver mottling and toothed margins, and fragrant white flower spikes appear in early spring; leaves are evergreen in warmer zones and semi-evergreen to deciduous in cooler ones, providing a distinctive bluish-green, mottled display. Cultivation and uses: Hardy in USDA zones 5–9, it prefers partial to full shade and acidic, humus-rich, well-drained soils, often on limestone substrate; tolerates a range of moisture levels from moist to well-drained and is drought-tolerant once established. It is deer-resistant and slow-growing, making it suitable for woodland gardens, underplanting shrubs, shade banks, and erosion control; propagation is by division or softwood cuttings, with low maintenance required.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-12 inches

Spread

12-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial sun to full shade.

Soil Type

Moist, acidic, organic-rich, well-drained soil.

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained soil.

Soil pH

5.5-6.5 pH

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring (mid-March to early April; sometimes into early Summer)

Foliage Color

Blue-green

Fall Foliage Color

Bluish-green with silvery mottling in fall

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous, Semi-deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow-growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees