pachysandra

noun

pach·​y·​san·​dra ˌpa-ki-ˈsan-drə How to pronounce pachysandra (audio)
: any of a genus (Pachysandra) of perennial evergreen plants of the box family often used as a ground cover

Examples of pachysandra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Semi-evergreen ground covers often seen in Chicago-area yards include periwinkle (Vinca minor), English ivy (Hedera helix), wintercreeper (Euonymous fortunei), Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis), bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) and liriope (Liriope spicata). Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 20 Nov. 2021 Conventionally, grass is replaced with a wide area of a single ground cover, such as pachysandra, myrtle, or liriope. Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2022 Be careful not to confuse mountain spurge with similar-looking Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis), which is invasive. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2021 Late spring and early summer are the most common times to find active blight on pachysandra. Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 17 July 2021 Could the aggressive pachysandra account for my Mugo pine appearing to dry out? BostonGlobe.com, 18 July 2021 Divide the 42 square feet of the bed by the 0.45 square feet each plant will fill to calculate the number of plants to purchase, for a total of 93 pachysandra plants. Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 9 May 2021 Remove weeds and debris and replace plants known to provide cover, including English ivy, periwinkle, pachysandra and hosta. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2019 Other options include planting a shade-tolerant ground cover such as pachysandra or Canadian ginger or installing mulch under the trees where grass is not growing. Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 10 July 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pachysandra.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, irregular from Greek pachys + New Latin -andrus -androus

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pachysandra was in 1914

Dictionary Entries Near pachysandra

Cite this Entry

“Pachysandra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pachysandra. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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