Orchids are often thought of as temperamental tropicals, but many are easy, low-care garden plants. Among the very best is Siebold’s hardy orchid, also known as Japanese hardy orchid. Its lovely pleated foliage makes an evergreen clump up to 18 inches across that looks almost like a strangely textured hosta (Hosta spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9). In midspring, stalks emerge bearing cheery yellow flowers in upright clusters. If winter temperatures drop into single digits and foliage is killed back, the plant may be somewhat slow to start actively growing again in spring, but it should be fine. Best of
all, deer and other critters seem to avoid all orchids as a rule.

Allegheny spurge

Pachysandra procumbens

Zones: 6–9

Size: 8 inches tall and 36 inches wide

Conditions: Partial to full shade; average to dry soil

Native range: Southeastern United States

This highly prized native member of the boxwood family is too rarely encountered in gardens. Forming a slowly spreading carpet of matte green leaves marked with silver and sometimes purple highlights, it is nothing like the more common and übervigorous Japanese pachysandra (P. terminalis, Zones 5–9). Small, fragrant, white bottlebrush flower spikes appear in spring in the center of the clump. Old foliage can be removed in late winter or allowed to disappear on its own as the new leaves emerge. Allegheny spurge is happiest in humus-rich soil; once established, though, it is quite tolerant of drought, if not terribly happy about it. Deer and rabbits tend to avoid the plant but may take a

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