Eastern Forest Threat Center - Japanese Pachysandra

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Japanese Pachysandra

Japanese Pachysandra

Jil Swearingen, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org

Japanese Pachysandra
Pachysandra terminalis

Japanese pachysandra, native to temperate Asia, has been planted in the U.S. as an ornamental.

Keywords: Buxaceae, evergreen, perennial, herb, groundcover, white flowers, vegetative reproduction, dense mats; Common names: Japanese spurge

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Threat Description

Japanese pachysandra is an evergreen perennial herb groundcover in the boxwood family that can reach 12 in. in height. Small oval-shaped leaves, generally 2 to 4 in. in length, alternate about the stem. Flowers are white and appear between March and April. Fruits are on terminal branches and are extremely small. Japanese pachysandra reproduces vegetatively through underground stems and roots. It is prominent along forest and meadow edges. It grows very quickly, forming a very dense mat that can displace other vegetation.