Boxwoods are the staple shrub of traditional garden design, providing formal, elegant evergreen structure as low hedges or topiary.
Boxwoods & Garden Design
Used for centuries in European gardens and now commonly planted in American landscapes coast to coast, Boxwoods are iconic in formal garden settings. Grown as traditional hedges or edging between garden areas, trimmed into topiary forms or potted, boxwood shrubs serve many functions in the landscape and rank among the most popular plants sold at garden centers.
Boxwoods are the ideal plant to achieve a traditional English garden aesthetic, and examples of their use in garden design can be found in our Dennis’ 7 Dees Traditional Landscape Design Guide. In the guide, learn how to pair boxwoods with taller hedges, and how to create beds to feature blooming shrubs like Roses or Hydrangeas. Find inspiration for traditional garden design, including two timeless color palettes and a full “traditional” plant list!
The Best Boxwood Varieties
There are many different cultivars of boxwood currently available on the market. Cultivars may differ in mature size or shape, leaf size or color, disease resistance, or some other variation.
Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ (True Dwarf English Boxwood): Low and round; slow growth rate to about 2–3 feet tall and wide; best for low edging, small hedging, or formal knot gardens
Buxus ‘Green Mountain’: Upright and pyramidal habit; faster growing to 5 feet tall by 2–3 feet wide; cold hardy; retains green color through winter; best for formal accents and taller hedges
Buxux ‘Green Tower’: Upright and narrow; moderate grower to 8-9 feet tall by; 1–2 feet wide; ideal for entryway container plantings, tall privacy hedges and vertical accents
Buxux ‘Green Velvet’: Compact and round; quickly grows to 3–4’ tall and wide; keeps deep green foliage color year round; requires little care; ideal for low hedges and foundation plantings
Buxus microphylla ‘Winter Gem’ (Small-Leaved Boxwood): Compact and round; quickly grows to 2–4 feet tall and wide; slightly smaller, pointed leaves than English Boxwood; more resistant to boxwood blight; easily grown as a compact hedge or clipped topiary
Boxwood Growth Habit & Care Tips
Sun Exposure for Boxwood
Evergreen with small, tidy-looking foliage and a dense, broadly rounded, multi-branched habit, boxwood grows well in full sun and tolerates a fair amount of shade as well. Protect plants from winter winds and extreme summer sun to avoid foliage stress or sunburn.
Boxwood Watering Needs
Provide regular water to boxwoods during the establishment period to help them develop strong roots. Once established, boxwood shrubs do not require much water, but water should be provided during Summer to prevent browning or wilting on older specimens.
Fertilizing Boxwood Shrubs
Fertilize newly planted boxwoods with a general, all-purpose fertilizer or one with a little more nitrogen (the first number on the fertilizer package label) or iron in late winter or early spring. Once the plants mature, they will only need occasional feeding every few years. Excessive fertilizer application may attract pests like thrips and spider mites to boxwood.
How & When to Prune Boxwood
Most varieties are slow growing, and all do well with any type of pruning. Early June is the ideal time for pruning, when Spring rains have dried up but before the heat of Summer. Avoid pruning when plants are very wet, as this can cause diseases to occur.
Boxwood Pests & Diseases
Unfortunately, a unique fungal issue called boxwood blight occurs in boxwood and is fatal to plants. It was found to have spread to the Portland area in 2014 and is mostly in isolated pockets that are being monitored and suppressed as much as possible. Boxwood blight infects all members of the boxwood family (Buxaceae), including Pachysandra and Sarcococca, and quickly causes the plant to drop all of its leaves and die.
- Removal of infected plants is recommended rather than treatment with a fungicide, due to the severity of the disease.
- To reduce the likelihood of your plants developing boxwood blight, do not over irrigate, and water only the roots as much as possible.
- Find useful information about boxwood blight from Oregon State University’s Extension Service if you have concerns or would like to learn more about this issue.
Boxwood is also susceptible to spider mites during the heat of the Summer, as well as boxwood psyllid and other insect pests. Systemic insecticides or topical insecticides can be applied to help reduce insect pressure, and avoiding too much fertilizer can reduce the likelihood of insects.
Boxwood is deer and rabbit resistant, making it ideal for long hedged planting beds in areas where these animals are present.
Boxwood Alternatives
If you like the look of boxwood but want to consider an alternative that doesn’t have the same pest and disease pressures, the following are fantastic boxwood replacement options:
- Lonicera (Box Leaf Honeysuckle): Fast growing to 4–5’ tall and wide; small, evergreen leaves come in a range of colors and variegation patterns; handles shearing and shaping well
- Ilex crenata ‘Compacta’ (Japanese Holly): Slow growing to 4–5’ tall and wide and sturdy; small, deep green evergreen leaves are slightly cupped; tolerates shaping but has a naturally rounded habit like boxwood
- Hebe buxifolia (Boxleaf Hebe): Slow to moderate growing to 2–3’ tall and 4–5’ wide; small leaves and succulent stems with green coloration like boxwood; soft purple flowers; naturally rounded, requires little pruning; drought tolerant
- Pieris japonica ‘Cavatine’ (Andromeda): Slow growing to 2–3’ tall and wide; deep green leaves appear in starry clusters; naturally dense habit; covered in fragrant white flowers in Spring
If you are considering planting boxwood, or boxwood alternative, visit one of our Portland area garden centers to see our selection, ask questions, and get expert help in choosing the best plant for you and your garden!