Allegheny spurge

Sun

Partial to full shade; protect from strong afternoon sun.

Water

Moderate; keep evenly moist while establishing. Established plants tolerate occasional dry periods in shade.

Soil

Humus-rich, well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral; avoid waterlogged ground.

Height

0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m), eventually wider as colonies develop

Flowers

Early spring; short spikes of fragrant creamy-white to pale pink flowers, often opening before the new leaves expand.

Foliage

Broad, toothed, blue-green leaves develop silvery mottling, often becoming more conspicuous with age. Leaves may take on bronze tones in cold weather.

Growth

Slow

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.2 ft (0.06 m)

2. After 1 year

   0.3 ft (0.1 m)

3. After 2 years

   0.5 ft (0.14 m)

4. After 3 years

   0.6 ft (0.18 m)

5. After 5 years

   0.7 ft (0.22 m)

   full size

About 4 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Slow

• Water regularly during the first growing season, keeping the soil moist but not saturated.
• Water established plants during prolonged drought, especially beneath thirsty tree roots.
• Apply a thin layer of leaf mould or compost each spring; routine fertilizer is usually unnecessary.
• Mulch lightly with shredded leaves, keeping thick, wet layers away from the crowns.
• Divide only when you need more plants or want to limit a colony; this slow grower rarely needs routine division.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, snip off badly damaged old leaves before new growth expands, taking care not to cut emerging flower spikes. Leave healthy foliage in place.

Late winter

Remove badly weathered leaves without damaging emerging flower spikes.

Early spring

Top-dress with a thin layer of leaf mould or compost.

Spring

Plant or divide, then water thoroughly and keep divisions moist while they root.

Summer

Check soil moisture beneath trees and water during prolonged dry spells.

Early autumn

Plant or divide where there is enough mild weather for roots to establish before winter.

Late autumn

Retain a light covering of fallen leaves, but remove thick, matted piles from the crowns.

• Plant beneath deciduous trees and shrubs for a low, textured woodland ground layer.
• Edge shaded paths with small colonies whose mottled foliage can be seen close up.
• Combine with ferns, hellebores and hostas for contrasting leaf shapes.
• Grow around spring bulbs, allowing its expanding leaves to soften the bulbs' fading foliage.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Traditional, Secret garden, Low-maintenance, Green on green and Southern.

Plant it with: Christmas fern, Hellebores, Hostas, Foamflower, Wild ginger and Virginia bluebells.

Wildlife: Early flowers offer pollen and nectar to small insects, including bees. Deer usually leave the foliage alone, though browsing is still possible.

• Leaf scorch: pale or browned leaves can follow strong sun or drought; provide afternoon shade and water deeply during dry spells.
• Root and crown rot: plants decline in persistently wet soil; improve drainage and avoid burying the crowns.
• Leaf blight: brown spots and dying shoots can develop in damp, crowded conditions; remove affected material, improve airflow and avoid overhead watering.
• Slugs and snails: young leaves may be chewed; remove hiding places and hand-pick after dark.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, but species-specific safety information is limited. No particular part is established as a poisoning hazard; it is not an edible plant, and pets or children should not be encouraged to eat it.

• Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis)

  Usually has glossy, plain green, evergreen leaves and forms a denser, faster-spreading carpet. Allegheny spurge has duller, often silver-mottled leaves and is deciduous in colder winters.

• Japanese spurge 'Variegata' (Pachysandra terminalis 'Variegata')

  Its leaves have distinct cream-white margins rather than the irregular silvery mottling found across Allegheny spurge leaves.

Pachysandra comes from Greek words referring to the thick male flower parts, while procumbens means lying along the ground.

Propagation. Divide rooted sections of the rhizomes in spring or early autumn, keeping roots and at least one healthy shoot on each piece. Replant promptly and water until established.

Accepted botanical name

Pachysandra procumbens

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.