This plant has an uglier common name, Rat Stripper, likely from its low, dense, spreading habit and its shiny, deep, evergreen, prickly edged foliage that is held tight to the ground. Despite that ugly common name, Pachistima is an outstanding North American native that forms a superb looking low, nearly ground covering shrub that loves partial shade but will tolerate sun well. It's a great plant for grouping toward the front on any planting and can be used as a mass planting to great effect. Better yet, Pachistima thrives in sandy, rocky soils that tend to give other plants fits and is perfect for planting in seashore conditions.