Native Plant Alternatives to Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese Spurge)

Pachysandra terminalis, also known as Japanese Spurge, is native to Japan and China but has been introduced to other regions as an ornamental ground cover due to its shade tolerance and evergreen leaves. In some areas, particularly in the northeastern United States, it has been labeled as potentially invasive.

While Pachysandra terminalis is not as aggressive as other invasive species, it can still spread beyond its initial planting area via its rhizomatous growth habit. It tends to form dense carpets that can crowd out native vegetation, especially in forest understories and along forest edges.

Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese Spurge) is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.

According to the U.S Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.

The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.

A plant is considered native if it occurs naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits in growing native plants. First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers and pesticides or use less water. Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats. Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.