How big does Japanese spurge grow?

About 30 cm × 1.5 m after ten years (height × width).

Is Japanese spurge hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

When does Japanese spurge flower?

Flowering: March–April, white.

How much water does Japanese spurge need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Japanese spurge

Pachysandra terminalis

Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis) is a ground cover plant that reaches 30 cm × 1.5 m after ten years. Light: part shade, shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about €3.

Illustration of Japanese spurge — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A low evergreen ground cover that knits a glossy green carpet under trees and shrubs, even in deep shade where lawn gives up. It is slow to start, then spreads by underground rhizomes into a continuous colony, so plant it closely. It wants humus-rich, moist, slightly acidic soil: in hot sun and on chalky ground the leaves turn yellow.

Watch out for

Its most serious problem is Volutella blight: brown blotches with concentric rings spread on the leaves, stems turn black and die, and whole patches of a planting can be killed. It mainly strikes weakened plants, meaning those stressed by hot sun, winter desiccation, drought, scale insects or de-icing salt, and beds that are too dense and stay wet for long. Thin the bed, remove diseased parts and fallen leaf litter and avoid overhead watering; the spores survive in the soil for a long time, so in a badly infected spot choose another ground cover. On the alkaline soils common in Central Europe and in sun it yellows with chlorosis, and in waterlogged ground it gets root and stem rot. It can also carry the boxwood blight pathogen.

Key facts

Light: Part shade, Shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 30 cm × 1.5 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D March–April, white

Group	Ground cover
Light	Part shade, Shade
Size after 10 years	30 cm × 1.5 m
Ultimate size	15–30 cm × 0.3–1.5 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Acidic
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	March–April, white
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	25 cm
For dogs	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €3

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €3

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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Ground cover plants for shade Ground cover plants Plants for shade Evergreen plants Fragrant plants