Pachysandra - Collectors' Choices

There are other P. procumbens clones available if a gardener is willing to hunt a little. These are:

• 'Pixie,' a miniature form introduced by the Holden Arboretum near Akron, OH;
• 'Penn State Strain' which is reportedly a larger form;
• 'Eco Treasure,' a highly variegated form selected by Don Jacobs of Eco Gardens, Decatur, GA;
• and 'Kingsville,' introduced for its beautiful silver markings by Henry Hohman of Kingsville Nursery, Maryland;

Some of the nurseries that sell P. procumbens and when available some clones are:

• Asiatica Nursery, Lewisville, PA;
• Plant Delights Nursery, Sauls, N.C.;
• Niche Gardens, Chapel Hill, N.C.
• Lazy S's Farm Nursery, Borboursville, VA.

Pachysandra stylosa (stii-lo' sah) is a little-known and seldom seen evergreen perennial from China that grows in zones 6 to 9. It forms attractive evergreen clumps of stems which bear leathery light green serrate leaves. In spring it produces short stubby flowers, white blushed with pink, on spike-like inflorescences borne in the leaf axils. This is a lovely plant, but does not spread widely. One place it is offered is Asiatica Nursery, Lewisberry, PA.

Pachysandra axillaris(ax-ill-lair' iss) is another seldom seen species native to the mountains of China that grows in zones 6 to 9. However, it is a distinctly taller growing almost shrubby species when compared to the previous two. Its woody stems bear evergreen foliage and may reach to 18 inches tall. In spring, long panicle-like inflorescences bearing white flowers develop in the leaf axils.

P. axillaris is relatively easy to find in small specialty nurseries. Here is a selection of nurseries that often offer this plant:

• Heronswood Nursery, Kingston, WA;
• The Garden Zone Internet Garden Site, N.Z.;
• Long Acre Plants Co.,Somerset, U.K.;
• and Esveld Nursery, Boskoop, The Netherlands.

Curious gardeners with an interest in plant history and geography can discover with a little reading and internet research many more curious facts about Pachysandra, like these:

• Apart from P. procumbens, all the species are native to the mountains of China and Japan.
• These plants belong to the boxwood (Buxaceae) plant family. These low shruby perennials we gardeners use as groundcovers are actually kissing cousins to the ever-present boxwood shrubs (Buxus) long cultivated and steeped in myth and lore.
• Many authoritative plant references such as Hortus Third, A Concise Dictionary of Plants Cultivated in the United States and Canada and horticultural authorities like Allan M. Armitage writing in the second edition of Herbaceous Perennial Plants: A Treatise on
  The copyright of the article Pachysandra - Collectors' Choices in Landscape Design is owned by Georgene A. Bramlage. Permission to republish Pachysandra - Collectors' Choices in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

  Go To Page: 1 2 3

  Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic