Pachysandra terminalis
A shade-loving evergreen groundcover growing 6 to 12 inches tall and spreading steadily by rhizomes to form a uniform carpet of glossy, dark green leaves clustered in whorls at the stem tips. It requires partial to full shade and prefers moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil with moderate, regular water, and it dislikes hot sun and drought. Small spikes of inconspicuous white flowers appear in spring, but it is grown chiefly for its dense, weed-suppressing foliage. Use it under trees, on shaded slopes, and in north-facing beds where most groundcovers struggle.