Growing zones
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Japanese Spurge is a vigorous grower and extremely popular groundcover. Once established, it spreads rapidly through stolons, forming lush, dense colonies. It’s resilient and thrives on minimal care, quickly filling in areas and creating a dense green carpet.
The Japanese spurge's dark green foliage and springtime white blooms add a dash of elegance to your garden beds. It thrives in both sun-dappled and full shade, making it perfect for shade gardens. You’ll need to thin plants periodically to prevent them from taking over.
Superior Starter Plants from Our In-House Nursery Transform your partial to full shade garden into a lush paradise with a dense carpet of Japanese Spurge from McKay Nursery. Unlike some nurseries, we grow our plants in-house, ensuring top-notch quality and hardiness in Wisconsin’s climate. Japanese spurge is perfect for adding a verdant, low-maintenance ground cover to your landscape. Don’t settle for drop-shipped plants; trust McKay's expertise and care since 1897.
Order Green Carpet Japanese Spurge today and elevate your garden's beauty with ease. For more information, contact us at [email protected] or call us at 920-478-2121.
- Part Sun/Shade, Shade
Mature Plant Size (H x W):
.5-1' x 1-1.5' 
Bloom Season:
Spring
- Attracts Bees
- Deer Resistant
- Drought Tolerant
- Salt Tolerant
- Walnut Toxicity Resistant
Planting & Care for Pachysandra Terminalis Green Carpet
Preparation
- Best grown in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils from partial to full shade. Be cautious as pachysandra terminalis green carpet foliage tends to bleach when grown in too much sun.
- Plants thrive in sun-dappled shade gardens under large trees.
- Set starter plants 6-12" apart as a ground cover.
- Extremely popular ground cover for a variety of shady locations in the landscape, including areas under trees, foundations, around shrubs, or along walkways. Do mass plantings on banks or slopes.
Planting Groundcovers/Vines
- The planting bed should contain 6-8" of topsoil well mixed with approximately 2" of peat moss.
Pruning - After Planting
- Groundcovers/Vines: No pruning is needed right away.
Pruning - Throughout the Season
- Thin plants periodically to promote good air circulation.
Watering - After Planting
- Japanese pachysandra plants typically take approximately 6 weeks to establish new roots in your soil. During this period, water plants as often as every 2-4 days at the start and at least a minimum of once per week.
- Beyond the 6-week establishment period, water is used once per week unless rain occurs.
- Stick your finger into the soil around 3” to check soil moisture.
Watering - Throughout the Season
- After the first season, plants should only be watered during extended periods without rain.
- How do you know if your plants need water? The easiest way to tell is to touch the soil around the roots. If it is moist, there is no need to water. If dry, give it a good soak with the hose end (no nozzle), watering the soil only, not the leaves.
- Stick your finger into the soil around 3” to check soil moisture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Japanese Spurge invasive?
Does the Japanese Spurge maintain its dark green foliage all year?
How do you control Japanese Spurge?
1. Regularly trimming back the edges of the planting area to prevent it from encroaching on other parts of your garden.
2. Removing any unwanted growth by digging up the plants and ensuring you remove all root fragments to prevent regrowth.
3. Avoiding overhead watering and ensuring good air circulation to keep the plants healthy and manageable.
What are the common pests that affect Green Carpet Japanese Spurge?
To manage slugs and snails, use barriers such as copper tape around the planting area, handpick them early in the morning or late in the evening, and consider using organic slug baits or traps. Maintaining a drier environment and reducing mulch thickness can also help deter these pests.
How can I use Green Carpet Japanese Spurge in landscaping?
Its evergreen foliage adds year-round interest, and it can help prevent soil erosion on slopes and embankments. Its low-maintenance nature and attractive foliage make it a versatile choice for various landscaping applications.
Planting & Handling Help
Download our Planting and Handling Guide below to plan for a successful arrival and install of your plants. Be sure to water all plants as soon as they arrive and every day until you’re ready to plant. Keep any bare root bundles in a shady, cool spot with the roots covered at all times.
Learn More
Watch our videos on handling bare root plants, how your order is prepared for shipment and more.
Plant Sizing
What is the difference between Containers, Grow Bags, Bare Root, and Balled & Burlap (B&B)?
Shipping Times
Our FedEx and local shipping times depend on two factors, one is by the region and the second is the type of product being shipped. For example, small fruits are only shipped in spring, but majority of our perennials are shipped from spring until fall. Keep in mind the dates below act as a general guide. Due to unpredictable weather, staffing, inventory and industry demands these timelines can change. Therefore, we cannot guarantee any of these times.
Shipping Dates by Region*
Northern Cold Region: April 22nd - November 7th
Northern Region: April 15th - November 7th
Middle Region: April 1st - November 7th
Southern Region: March 15th - November 7th
Local Delivery (small radius from Waterloo, WI): April 22nd - November 7th
Shipping Dates by Season*
Spring Shipping: Region Start Date (above) - May
Fall Shipping: September - November
Due to unpredictable weather, these times may vary. Some varieties are exceptions due to heat and plant health reasons. Enter your shipping zip code at the top of this page and be sure to check the shipping information on each product before you add it to your cart. If the product is too large or restricted in your state, you will not be able to checkout with that item in your cart.