Japanese Pachysandra

Pachysandra terminalis is a low-growing perennial in the family Buxaceae, the same botanical family as boxwood, and it belongs in the garden by doing one thing exceptionally well: covering ground where little else will. It spreads steadily outward, forming a dense, weed-suppressing mat of glossy foliage that stays evergreen through winter in most climates. For a beginner who has stared at a bare patch of soil under a tree and wondered what on earth to plant there, this is a reliable answer.

As a member of the genus Pachysandra, it carries the low-maintenance reputation the group is known for. It asks for medium water and roughly ten minutes of attention per week, enough time to pull the occasional stray weed while the plant is still getting established. Once it knits together into a solid carpet, it largely fends for itself. Its extraordinarily wide hardiness range, spanning Zones 1a through 13b, means it can be grown in nearly every corner of the continental United States, making it one of the most broadly adaptable perennials a beginner could choose.