March Madness is here and with it came extreme highs and heart wrenching lows. The Eagleson’s are a family built on a collegiate foundation half Purdue and half Michigan State. Suffice it to say its been a tough sports month for us to swallow. Needing an escape from the realities of loss, I have sat here in front of my computer to write about my other great love, landscaping. This week I want to talk about a plant that is tried and true, a strong competitor in your landscape beds and a year round guarantee to improve your garden…and not let you down. (I’m not bitter about the basketball games, I swear) This weeks Plant of the Week is a perfect foundation to your beautiful landscape and a brilliant shade loving groundcover! This week is all about the Japanese Spurge or Pachysandra terminalis!

Besides being one of the few plants you probably recognize better by its scientific name, Pachysandra, Japanese Spurge is a FANTASTIC groundcover in a multitude of ways.  Hardy year round color due to being evergreen, it will also treat you with white or pink blooms during the Spring and Summer. I love growing pachysandra in a shady canopy covered yard, and dot under story trees like dogwood throughout or accent with a Japanese maple. (Both trees we have discussed in previous editions of Plant of the Week!) Shade tolerant shrubs like rhododendron are also great to compliment Japanese Spurge. Pachysandra is very low maintenance, really only requiring moist soil and shade to thrive. It will generally grow to 6-12 inches in height and makes a lovely mat of vegetation once established. It does take about 3 years to fully fill in and establish, but once it grows in there is little to no maintenance required of it.  Remember a garden is an investment and all investments take time to repay your good faith! You WILL enjoy the long term benefits of this wonderful plant!

Plant Spurge to lock in a steep bank or simply to lower mulching needs and improve the look of your yard. I highly recommend using this wonderful groundcover if you have a shady moist yard! Check out more about this plant here and as always contact us if you have any landscaping needs! Spring has officially sprung and the time to beautify your landscape is now!  Let’s perfect and bring nature back into Zionsville!

Eagleson Landscape Company provides landscape and hardscape services in the Greater Indianapolis area, including Carmel, Zionsville, Westfield, Fishers and Geist.