In modern floriculture, there are more and more trends in planting unusual, original flowers, along with traditional ones. Moreover, to get the groundcover exot and explore information about it now is not difficult. In this regard, we want to introduce you to another representative of the exotic flora - pachisander. The plant came to us from sunny Japan and China and quickly won the hearts of avid flower growers. How to organize the planting and care of pahizandra in the open field of our gardens, as well as what agrotechnical norms should be followed - we consider in this article.
Biological description (with photo)
Pahizandra is known as a perennial ground cover plant with lush green foliage of the Boxwood family. At home, it is a wild dwarf shrub that covers the ground with a thick carpet. The culture is rather low - its growth is 30-35 cm. 
It attracts the attention of ovoid glossy leaves, the three-tier arrangement of which contributes to the formation of a dense living carpet on the ground. The diameter of one leaf is 2-4 cm, with a length of 3-6 cm. About 10 leaves are fastened to one stalk with the help of short petioles. The edges of the leaves impress with their original mosaic shape.
The plot can also be turned into a green carpet by planting an Indian, mesembryantemum, alissum, silver dichondra, armeria, saxifrage, nemophile, tenacious, iberis evergreen, periwinkle, camelling, youthful.
The flowering period of pachisander begins in mid-May and lasts until August. At this time, spike-shaped inflorescences appear on the top of the plant, which are soon covered with pale flowers. 
Did you know? The same inflorescence places on itself, both female and male flowers, which contributes to high-quality pollination.Flowering ends with the formation of fruits (9-11 mm), which take the form of small stone farms, which are hidden in a triangular fruit box. Another feature of the plant is a developed and long root system, mostly located on the soil surface. Every three years, the foliage of the culture dies off, but this process is rather unnoticed, since new leaves are formed on the stems.
In addition, pahizandra is not only an exotic carpet of a garden plot, but also the main tool for weed control, which simply does not survive under its dense cover. But it is worth remembering that, on the favorable soil of pahizandr, it is still able to show aggressiveness and quickly seize new territories.
Did you know? In the people the culture is known as "Japanese Euphorbia". As for the exotic scientific name "pachisander", it is a tracing paper from the Greek pachysandra - words that came from two roots and literally translated as "big male". As it turned out, the idea of such a wayward name did not arise by chance, but was caused by associations that cause thick stamens located inside the flower.
Genus Species
In the wild, there are only 4 species of this perennial culture. But the selection has done its job - the populations of varieties of green shrubs are constantly increasing.
The most popular varieties are:
- Axillary pachisander is a giant of its kind. Its growth can reach 45 cm. On one shoot it fits from 3 to 6 leaves, which are grouped mainly on the top. Their color is dark green. Compared to other varieties, the white flowers of this variety exude a rather faint fragrance.
- Japanese pahizandra, unlike the previous species, is a dwarf variety with a height not exceeding 15 cm. The peculiarity of the species is that its toothed foliage falls off every 2 years.
- Pachisander recumbent different from their relatives. First, this species resets foliage every year. Secondly, the culture stems have a brown-pink color, and the flowers are white-pink. Thirdly, its foliage is adorned with a whitish pile of hair from below.
- Apical pachisander enjoys the greatest demand due to the ease of planting and maintenance. The plant does not lose its leaf cover for 3 years, after which the foliage is quietly updated. Flowering occurs in April or May. This species is rich in decorative breeding varieties.
Important! Despite the early flowering period, the seeds of this pahizandra variety are difficult to obtain, however, like any other: in our climate they do not have time to ripen qualitatively.Varieties of pahizander apical:
- pahizandra green - low-growing species of the apical, covered with bright green foliage;
- variegata - variety, which differs in the original color of the leaves: their edges are as if trimmed with a white uneven edging.
- silverage - subspecies, which is distinguished by a silver stroke on foliage.
When, where and how to land a pahizander?
The culture is rather unpretentious, its cultivation does not require special work and compliance with strict agrotechnical norms.
Timing
Pachisander can be planted at any time - from early spring to late autumn. She adapts quite well to her new place of residence, but she will not start to bush and expand at once, for this she needs about 1.5 months.
Location and soil
When choosing a place for planting culture, it is worth considering that it is not in favor of direct sunlight. On the contrary, pahizander prefers shaded or semi-shaded areas.
Important! Excessive solar illumination adversely affects the green carpet: the leaves of the plant lose their attractiveness, the glossy glow, and become pale, the density of the cover is lost.
Do not worry too much about the choice of soil for pahizandra, because the culture feels good on any type of soil. But, of course, has its own preferences. She has to taste a well-drained, loose and neutral soil layer, preferably containing humus. Does not need special watering and top dressing. Also not afraid of the winter cold.To shade-tolerant perennials also belong: astilba, aconite, brunner, dicentre, doronicum, bathing suit, lily of the valley, host, lupine, roger.
Landing
There are three ways to plant a pachisander:
- Seeds. It is worth remembering that the seeds survive only in southern areas, the conditions of the northern climate do not contribute to the ripening process. Please note that seed multiplication is quite a long and painstaking exercise. Seeds are sown in late autumn and cover the sowing site for the winter. Rare shoots appear only in spring. The development of the root system of seedlings is carried out for 2-3 years, and they will only bloom for 5 years.
- Planting cuttings - a fairly simple and easy technique. For its implementation requires only to cover the healthy shoots of plants with earth. Roots will appear on them too quickly.
- Reproduction of rhizome segments. To do this, choose a healthy part of the rhizome with a kidney renewal. The finished segments are placed in the grooves, a depth of 3-4 cm at a distance of about 20 cm. This method contributes to the rapid growth of the bush.
Important! The annual growth of the pahizandra shrub is about 40 cm.
Do I need care?
The wide popularity of pahizandra among flower growers is due to the fact that the plant does not need care. One has only to remember that the temperature regime for a culture in the period of rest (in winter) should not exceed + 12˚С. Take care of your "pupil" from direct sunlight, and she will thank you for a lush, living carpet of leaves. As for diseases and pests, the plant is resistant to them.
How to use pachisander in the garden
Pahizandra is a permanent necklace of park and garden landscape designs. It is a bright addition to the alpine hills, stony hills, lawns, feels excellent in the parks in the shade of the thick crowns of other trees.
Using culture in landscape design will allow you to create eastern corners of relaxation on your own sites. To do this, it is enough to reunite on a small unpaved or rocky knoll rhododendron, pachisander, astilba, shadow saxifrage, and bryozoa. The effect will be amazing. 
Important! Pahizandra has good anti-erosion properties, thanks to a powerful root system. In this regard, it is often planted on slopes, ravines, and coastlines of water bodies.As you can see, pachisander is a representative of plants, the decorative properties of the foliage of which are much more refined than flowers. It is the leaf cover that brightly distinguishes culture from other exotic animals, gives it aesthetics and superiority. In addition, care for such a plant is almost not needed. Just plant it and enjoy it.
