Allegheny pachysandra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allegheny pachysandra |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pachysandra
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| Species: |
procumbens
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| Synonyms | |
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Pachysandra erecta (Baillon) |
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The Pachysandra procumbens, also known as the Allegheny pachysandra or Allegheny spurge, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Buxaceae family. This plant grows naturally in the southeastern United States. You can find it from West Virginia and Kentucky all the way south to Florida, and west to Louisiana. Sometimes, the name Allegheny is spelled Alleghany.
This plant is an evergreen subshrub, which means it's a small, woody plant that stays green all year. It usually grows less than 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) tall. Its leaves are 5–10 centimeters long and have rough, toothed edges. The flowers are small and white. They grow together on a stem called a raceme, which is about 2–3 centimeters long.
What Allegheny Pachysandra Looks Like
Pachysandra procumbens is a shrubby plant that covers the ground. It usually grows 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm) tall. It spreads out using underground stems called rhizomes. This helps it form a thick carpet of leaves. The leaves are a dull blue-green color and often have purple and white spots.
These leaves are shaped like an oval and can be up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) long. They have rough teeth at the top but are smooth at the bottom. In colder areas, the leaves might fall off in winter. But in warmer places, they stay green all year. Even when they are evergreen, the leaves might look a bit worn out by the middle of winter.
Small, sweet-smelling flowers appear in early spring. They are greenish-white to white. These flowers grow on spikes that are 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm) long. They bloom before the new leaves grow.
Where and How it Grows
The name Pachysandra comes from Greek words. It refers to the thick male parts of the flower, called stamens. The second part of its name, procumbens, is Latin for "trailing." This describes how the plant spreads along the ground using its rhizomes.
Allegheny pachysandra spreads slowly. It forms a thick carpet that is 8 to 10 inches (20-25 cm) tall. This plant grows well in many types of soil. It can handle both moist and dry soil. It also doesn't mind different soil pH levels. The most important thing is that it grows in partial shade to full shade. This plant is often found in woodlands. Many people also think it can resist deer and handle dry conditions well.
Gallery
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A leaf cluster
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Leaves
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Closeup of the leaves
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Closeup of flower
See also
In Spanish: Pachysandra procumbens para niños
