Fat males prove to be perfect plants in the right location because they require little care. Their location requirements are high because the evergreen sub-shrubs are sensitive to a number of factors. The plant shows this clearly to the gardener through changed appearance.
What are the special features of fat man plants?
Fat males (Pachysandra terminalis) are evergreen, easy-care sub-shrubs that are ideal for shady locations. They grow 15-30 cm high and form dense, extensive carpets. They are suitable as ground cover, foliage decoration and under planting for woody plants. Make sure there is enough moisture and avoid calcareous soil.
Origin
The fat man has many names. It is called thick anther because of its conspicuous stamens and because of its location requirements it was given the name shadow green. The scientific name Pachysandra terminalis provides information about the genus. Ysander species are boxwood plants. The fat male, known to botanists as Japanese ysander, grows in the humid forests of China and Japan.
Growth
The shade green is a semi-woody shrub whose shoots grow upright or creep along the ground. This evergreen subshrub grows between 15 and 30 centimeters high. Its branches form a dense bush. The perennial plant forms underground rhizomes that serve as energy storage and dispersal organs. The root nodules form runners that extend through the substrate. In this way, fat males develop an all-over growth habit.
leaves
Pachysandra terminalis develops deciduous leaves that are divided into leaf blades and stems. The simply structured leaf blade is only slightly notched at the tip. It grows between six and ten centimeters long and is lanceolate in shape.
The leaves are arranged alternately or are clustered together in small groups of four or six, which sit on short shoots that are woody at the base. Their blade appears leathery, thickened and coarse. They serve as water storage and remain on the plant even in winter. They decorate the garden with lush green tones all year round. If the location is too sunny, the foliage turns yellow.
Bloom
As a monoecious plant, the Japanese Ysander develops unisexual flowers. Male and female flowers are clustered together in a spike-shaped inflorescence. This is between two and four centimeters long and grows upright. It sits at the end of the shoot and is supported by bracts.
The flowers of the fat men are inconspicuous. The male flowers consist of four white to greenish colored perianths and the same number of stamens, which appear noticeably thick. The female counterpart is composed of four to six light green bracts and an ovary that ends in two to three styles. Many varieties have lost their ability to reproduce through breeding. They develop sterile flowers that cannot produce fruit.
Special features:
- some blooms from February to May
- candle-shaped inflorescences
- Inflorescence with more than 15 male flowers
- one to two female flowers sit below the male flowers
Fruit
After the flowers have withered, small and inconspicuous drupes with a white outer skin develop on the inflorescences. They are five to six millimeters long, egg-shaped and contain two to three black seeds. The style remains until the fruit is fully ripe.
Usage
Shadow green is a popular ornamental plant for planting under trees. The fat man thrives splendidly in these shaded and moist places. It is also planted in slightly sunny open areas. In many gardens and parks, the plant is not combined with other plants, but rather planted as a single variety. In this way, uniform and extensive carpets with dense foliage are created that radiate a harmonious character. These carpets decorate the subsoil of higher growing shrubs.
The Japanese Ysander serves as a grave plant and foliage perennial, whose densely leafy shoots decorate bouquets of flowers. Fat men are also flower ornamental plants that highlight theme gardens in spring. They provide colorful accents in forest gardens, formal bed arrangements and in the rhododendron garden.
Perfect plant neighbors:
- Spanish Harebell
- Lark Spur
- Grape Heath
- Japanese holly
Groundcover
Due to its ability to grow and spread, the fat man is often planted as a ground cover. It quickly turns fallow areas into greenery and hides unsightly spots in the garden. The plants have earned the nickname leaf swallower because fallen leaves quickly decompose on the ground.
Is fat man poisonous?
The fat man develops steroid alkaloids that have different concentrations in the different parts of the plant. Serious symptoms of poisoning only occur after consuming large quantities. You should still be careful that your pets don't nibble on the leaves or that children don't accidentally taste plant parts.read more
Which location is suitable?
Shadow green grows in partial shade and thrives in dark corners of the garden. The plants have adapted to the lack of light and can also carry out photosynthesis in shady locations. A sunny location causes problems for the subshrubs. Root pressure doesn't bother them. The plants are suitable for the urban climate.
What soil does the plant need?
Pachysandra terminalis likes well-drained soil with medium permeability. The substrate may be humus and should ensure fresh to moderately moist conditions. Dry conditions damage vitality. Fat men can only tolerate small amounts of lime in the soil. They grow on substrates with a pH value between 6.5 and 7.5. The plants tolerate a weakly acidic environment.
What is the best time to plant?
Shadow green can be planted in the garden all year round, as young plants are continuously available in containers. Planting is also possible in winter as long as the ground is not frozen.
Planting distance
So that fat men can form a dense carpet as quickly as possible, you should plant seven to twelve plants per square meter. Make sure there is a distance of 20 to 30 centimeters between the young plants so that they can root well and expand freely.
How to plant fat men:
- Planting hole should be deeper than the height of the root ball
- Insert the plant with the substrate
- Fill gaps with excavated material
- Press the substrate lightly
- water thoroughly
Propagation
In spring and autumn, dense stands can be divided as the plants develop underground runners. To do this, you don't have to dig up the entire root ball, just part of it. Use a sharp knife to cut off a root runner that has already developed fine roots. Make sure that as few roots as possible tear off the runner when you pull it out. Plant the root piece in the desired location and keep the substrate well moist. Fill the hole you dug with soil.read more
Sowing
Sowing seeds is possible if your plant produces fruits. Since this propagation method does not produce true-to-variety offspring, fat males are preferably propagated via cuttings and root runners. Seeds are rarely offered commercially. Swap meets are a good place to get seeds from special varieties.
Cuttings
Between May and June you can propagate fat males via head cuttings. The shoots should not yet be woody, as hardened branches root very poorly. Cut cuttings about seven centimeters long from a vital and strong mother plant and remove the lowest leaves.
Fat man in the pot
Ground cover plants like the fat man also cut a good figure in the pot. Choose the largest possible planter and place one plant in each pot. The densely growing shrubs create a magnificent picture in the plant pot, which is particularly suitable for shady balconies or north-facing house entrances.
Water fat man
The water requirements of the plants are moderate. The plants' dense foliage protects the substrate from drying out. A moist microclimate develops under the canopy, from which not only the subshrubs but also the soil organisms benefit. Since fat males prefer to grow in shady locations, there is a low risk of drying out in both summer and winter. You should water the plants additionally in particularly hot months when periods without precipitation last for a long period.
Fertilize fat males properly
Shadow green hardly needs any nutrients to grow. Young plants are placed in a humus-rich substrate to support them in their growth phase. In the fall of the first year, you can also give the young plants some compost. From the second year onwards, the plants are no longer fertilized.read more
Cut fat men correctly
The Japanese Ysander delights every hobby gardener with its undemanding care. Young plants can be regularly trimmed so that they form dense branches and grow bushier. As growth continues, no regular cutting measures are necessary. If necessary, you can loosen up stands that have become too dense, shorten plants that have grown too tall or cut back loosely growing specimens.
The ideal time for pruning is after flowering between April and May. Bare shoots can be cut off just above the ground all year round. If the plant forms uncontrolled runners that sprout outside the stand, these can be torn out.read more
hardy
Although the plants are evergreen, they are unaffected by frosty temperatures. Fat males are hardy and can survive temperatures down to -28° Celsius. Additional protection is not necessary. The dense foliage protects the soil from temperature fluctuations. If the plants grow under trees, the falling leaves cover the ground between the fat men. This creates a natural mulch layer.
How do I transplant correctly?
If the subshrubs need to be moved, you can easily dig up and transplant the individual plants. Be careful to damage as few roots as possible. The older the plant, the more fine roots run through the substrate. Since fine roots are always lost with this measure, the plant has to regenerate again after being moved. Therefore, you should think about propagating using the root runners. It is possible without any problems and rejuvenates the stock at the same time.
Diseases
Fat males often suffer from chlorosis, which is also known as jaundice or pallor. This deficiency indicates that the proportion of chlorophyll is too low. The pigment makes the leaves appear green and is essential for photosynthesis. If chlorophyll is missing, the leaves can no longer use solar energy.
Symptoms
Affected plants develop yellow leaves that wither and die as the disease progresses. The plant drops leaves and flowers and stops growing. The reasons for this disease are varied. In fat males, calcareous soil causes chlorosis. The plants cannot absorb iron in a substrate with a pH value that is too high, so a deficiency occurs.
Prevention
If you notice chlorosis on your plant, you should improve the substrate with rhododendron soil (€20.00 on Amazon). Alternatively, you can cover the soil with needle litter. The needles are decomposed by soil organisms and the acid concentration of the soil increases.
How to help your plant:
- ensure optimal site conditions
- refrain from adding fertilizer
- Fighting pests
- remove diseased shoots and leaves
read more
Fungal infestation
The microclimate between the fat men also offers optimal growth conditions for mushrooms. Certain factors also promote fungal infestation. Affected plants should be dug up and completely freed from the old substrate. Cut off affected parts of the plant and move the fat man to a new location.
Volutella
The fungal spores of the species Volutella pachysandrae survive in the substrate for a long time, so they can infect cuttings and young plants at any time. Infected plants show typical damage patterns. Their leaves develop brownish spots with concentric rings that can be round or oval. If the disease is more advanced, brown discoloration occurs at the base of the stem. The shoots gradually die off.
Heavily infested plants should be dug out of the ground and disposed of. Also remove the surrounding soil to eliminate as many spores as possible. As soon as you notice the first signs on the leaves, you should use fungicides as a preventive measure.
Phytophthora
This fungus is responsible for root rot. Its spores settle on already rotten roots and penetrate the organism. The plant is visibly weakened. It loses leaves and flowers. If left untreated, the plant dies. Since there are no fungicides approved in Germany, you should take preventive measures. The fungal spores feel particularly comfortable in wet substrate. Make sure that no waterlogging occurs.
Yellow leaves
Discoloration of the foliage occurs not only due to deficiency symptoms, but also due to incorrect location conditions. If the plants receive too much sunlight, the pigment chlorophyll is broken down. Other pigments emerge that make the leaf appear yellow. This form of chlorosis is equally harmful to the plant because its photosynthetic metabolism no longer works.
Transplanting to a shady location is recommended as a treatment measure. Here the plants recover quickly. The yellow-colored leaves no longer turn green because the plants do not rebuild the dye. They fall off and are replaced by fresh leaves that glow green in the shade.
Tip
There are plants that are very similar to the fat man. The three-leaved Waldsteinia or the small evergreen are also suitable for greening areas under trees. Plant several specimens of a species together in small groups, alternating between them, to create a colorful patchwork quilt. This planting arrangement puts you in a good mood.
Varieties
- Green Carpet: Small, narrow leaves. Low and compact growth. Grows up to 15 centimeters high.
- Variegata: Grows slower, less likely to spread. Leaves irregularly edged whitish to yellow, fine light veining.
- Compacta: Low growth. Flowers smell like lilacs. Growth height between ten and 15 centimeters.
- Silver Edge: Slow growth, suitable for balcony boxes. Colorful foliage. Up to 20 centimeters high.
