Pachysandra

An excellent and indispensable ground-cover plant for tricky shady areas. They will enjoy a moisture-retentive soil, but will tolerate a drier spot. Foliage on low creeping stems, normally glossy (although less so in P. procumbens), elegantly edged. Flowering occurs early in spring, short, upright spikes of white flowers, rather reminiscent of Sarcococca, which makes sense as they are both in the box family, Buxaceae.

The early spring flowering habit of Pachysandra provides a vital resource for bumblebees and solitary bees when they first emerge, and nectar is at a premium. The leathery leaves are tolerant of deer browsing, and form a shrubby carpet in shade that provides refuge for invertebrates, small mammals and amphibians.  The spreading habit means that it poses a risk to natural habitats should it escape (which it has in places) so steps should be taken to prevent it leaving the garden.Variegated cultivars have the reputation of being less invasive than the green forms.