You have dozens of varieties to choose from, but some of them may be very special to you. Here we tell you about 19 types of boxwood, so you can choose the right variety for your yard in 2024. These boxwoods are the most popular and unique that every landscaper should know about. Undoubtedly they have the potential to add colour, texture, and beauty to your garden.
19 Types of Boxwood: Choose Perfect Variety for Your Yard (2024)
Most types of boxwood bushes grown today are two boxwood varieties. They are either varieties of Buxus sempervirens (also known as common or American boxwood) or varieties of Buxus microphylla (known as Japanese boxwood). Other boxwood varieties exist as hybrids, combining characteristics of different types and varieties. All these types of boxwood are similar to each other in many ways and are also more or less different from each other. The diversity of boxwood is constantly increasing as horticulturists work to develop plants with specific qualities, such as improved disease resistance, cold tolerance, or different aesthetic qualities. The history of boxwood (Buxus) is very old. But facts show that it has been grown in the United States since the mid-17th century. Which started with planting in the gardens of the colonists. Today, there are approximately 150 varieties and species of boxwood available for planting in gardens. What to choose for yourself among such a wide variety and species is a difficult question. Especially new gardeners have a lot of doubt regarding this matter.
Therefore, this article will help you choose the right boxwood for you. So let us know which one can be the most perfect for you…
01 of 19: Common or American Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
Common or American Boxwood is the most planted boxwood. It grows as a large bush or small tree, whose height reaches about 25 feet. There are several varieties of boxwood under B. Sempervirens that are longer than in width.
Their new leaves are dark to shiny, dark green, and raised, the leaf is yellow-green on the reverse side. The narrow pointed leaves grow half an inch to one and a half inches long and these leaves are dense. It can be pruned to any height. Also, they can be cut to any desired size. But to avoid damage, stop pruning it as soon as August arrives. This was the first in the list of 19 types of Boxwood.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6 to 8
- Best Uses: Hedge, topiary. Their plant size, leaf shape, and color are suitable and available for almost any purpose.
02 of 19: English or Dwarf Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’)
In the list of 19 types of boxwood, English Boxwood is on the second. English Boxwood is very popular among people because it is hard, strong, and easy to grow. Provides contrast and beauty to the garden throughout the year by blending with the surrounding plants. This is a dwarf boxwood that remains small, growing to about 2-3 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide.
Its leaves are oval, broad, shiny, and about 2 inches long. This plant prefers evenly moist and well-drained soil. Also, it can grow in many types of soils. But there should not be too much sand in the soil. It is like partial shade and the plant is drought tolerant, but regular watering helps it remain beautiful and alive. It is a slow-growing compact shrub. Therefore, if you want to give it a particular shape or have any other need, do pruning only. After the last spring frost date is the right time for pruning. This plant is poisonous to dogs, cats, and horses. While resistant to deer and rabbits.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6 to 8
- Best Uses: Hedge, rounded shrub, topiary, beds, borders, container plantings. Ideal for small spaces
03 of 19: Korean Boxwood (Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Nana’)
Korean boxwood is known by many names, like Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Nana’, and B. microphylla var. Koreana, B. Koreana f. insularis, and Korean boxwood ‘Nana’. The name of this boxwood has been changed several times, which often confuses gardeners. But it is commonly known as Korean boxwood.
Korean boxwood has less dense growth than common boxwood. It is a low-growing compact evergreen shrub. Due to its evergreen and beautiful leaves, this boxwood provides color throughout the year. Also helpful in providing form, texture, and contrast to your companion plants. This bush is a hard and strong variety that is quite easy to grow. It is a small boxwood that grows slowly. It grows to a height of about 2 feet to 3 feet. Whereas it is up to 3 feet wide. Its leaves are round, small, thick, and medium green in color, and have curved edges. New leaf growth turns lime green in spring and darkens as the season progresses.
It thrives in partial shade and requires evenly moist and well-drained soil. Use mulch to retain moisture. Also, keep watering at the correct intervals. Some minor deficiencies are seen in these plants due to which their reputation is lower than that of Common Boxwood and English Boxwood. Such as their loose appearance and tendency to turn reddish-brown in winter. However, in many scenarios, it becomes a feature. Such as less susceptibility to bush diseases due to greater aeration and lower density.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8. (But some also grow in USDA zone 4).
- Best Uses: Suitable for beds, borders, container plantings, formal gardens, and Mediterranean gardens.
04 of 19: Japanese Boxwood or Littleleaf Boxwood
Many names know Japanese Boxwood or Littleleaf Boxwood. Which includes these names…
- Buxus microphylla,
- Buxus microphylla var. japonica ‘Green Beauty’,
- Japanese Boxwood ‘Green Beauty’
Japanese Boxwood plants grow to a height and width of 3 to 5 feet. Whereas these are fast-growing plants. If this bush is left to grow on its own and is not pruned, it will grow twice as wide as its height and it is a compact evergreen shrub.
Their leaves are more round than those of common boxwood and are approximately 1 inch in size and wax-like. Most of their varieties are green throughout the year. But some varieties turn from mid-green to deep orange after the first fall frost. This is more likely to happen if they get more sunlight instead of partial shade. This shrub can be more loose and awkward than Korean boxwood. But you can keep it attractive by regular pruning. Japanese Boxwood or Littleleaf boxwood is preferred in hot climates. Because like Korean boxwood, it cannot tolerate cold. In cold climates, it becomes highly colorless.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9.
- Best Uses: Specimen or accent in the landscape, shrub borders, and foundation plantings. Commonly used as edging and in formal hedges and English or cottage gardens.
05 of 19: Variegated Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Variegata’)
It is a variety of common boxwood. Its shape is round and grows slowly. The leaf centers are green; The edges start white in spring, turn creamy in early summer, and turn pale yellow at the end. Their constantly changing colors brighten up the areas and become their main attraction.
Their height when mature is 3 to 5 feet. These boxwoods do not tolerate poorly drained soils. Plant the bush’s root crown slightly above ground level to prevent root rot. They can be planted in full sun to partial shade. This was the fifth in the list of 19 types of Boxwood.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6 to 8
- Best Uses: Foundation plantings, formal gardens, Mediterranean gardens, vertical specimens or accents for mixed beds, borders, and large containers. Suitable for use as a topiary.
06 of 19: Green Gem Boxwood (Buxus ‘Green Gem’)
Green Gem Boxwood or Buxus ‘Green Gem’ is a hybrid of Korean boxwood. It was created by breeding Buxus microphylla ‘Koreana’ and Buxus sempervirens. The credit for making it goes to Sheridan Nursery of Ontario, Canada. Apart from ‘Green Gem’, varieties like ‘Green Mountain’, and ‘Green Velvet’ have also been developed by this nursery.
Green Gem Boxwood grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, and a slow-growing evergreen shrub. It is a shrub with small, round green leaves and dense growth that grows in well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. This dense shrub with multiple stems forms a neat, pretty little ball that adds great texture to landscape designs. However, it tends not to require much pruning.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
- Best Uses: Boxwood globes, container specimen, low hedge
07 of 19: Green Mountain Boxwood (Buxus ‘Green Mountain’)
The nature, form, and temperament of Green Mountain Boxwood are very good. Besides, its leaves are dense and can retain their dark green color. Its bright green foliage, clean, classic look, and low maintenance make it one of the most popular ornamental plants for landscape applications. These qualities make them a popular choice for a spiral look. People use them to make elaborate topiaries.
A relatively fast-growing shrub compared to other boxwoods. As its name suggests, ‘Green Mountains’ are taller. They are about 5 feet long and 3 feet wide. It is known for its dense, straight, pyramidal shape and if not cut, it grows into a tree. It grows in partial shade to full sun, preferring well-drained soil. This was the seventh in the list of 19 types of Boxwood.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
- Best Uses: Cone-shaped tree, hedge, spiral topiary. Adds great aesthetic value to any landscape design.
08 of 19: Green Velvet Boxwood (Buxus ‘Green Velvet’)
Green Velvet Boxwood or Buxus ‘Green Velvet’ is another great boxwood developed by Sheridan Nurseries of Canada. It is a hybrid which is made by combining ‘B. sempervirens’ and ‘B. microphylla var. Korean’. One of these provides hardness to it while the other helps in maintaining its green color and density in winter.
It is a slow-growing shrub that grows 3-4 feet tall and wide. Compared to other shrubs, it can withstand heat and humidity. This makes it a good selection for southern landscapes. This evergreen shrub or small tree has a round shape, due to which it can be shaped as a formal hedge or topiary. Well-drained soil having a mixture of sand and clay can be considered good for this. Also, it performs well in sunlight and partial shade.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
- Best Uses: Border, foundation planting, hedge. Also a popular choice for borders, lawns, or walkways.
09 of 19: Faulkner Boxwood (Buxus microphylla ‘Faulkner’)
Faulkner Boxwood or Buxus microphylla ‘Faulkner’ is a compact variety of Japanese box. ‘Faulkner’ is a slow-growing, erect, dense, evergreen shrub. Its leaves are small, oval to round, dark green. Whereas the leaves are light green when young and turn bronze in winter. Yellow-green flowers bloom in spring which are insignificant. They are approximately 4 feet long and 3 feet wide. Due to slow growth, little pruning is required. Buxus microphylla ‘Faulkner’ is very cold-resistant. Before planting, prepare soil with compost which is well drained. It is more tolerant of acidic soils than other Buxus. It would be best to use mulch and prune after flowering.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
- Best Uses: Container topiary, foundation plant, hedge. Ideal for topiary and clipped low hedges, formal gardens, and container plantings.
Also read: Rhododendron: Plant, Care, Blooming Tips, and Landscaping Ideas
10 of 19: North Star Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘North Star’)
North Star Boxwood is known by some other names. Which includes Buxus sempervirens ‘Katerberg’ and Buxus sempervirens ‘North Star’. North Star undoubtedly completes your evergreen collection. The ornamental and natural globe-shaped form of North Star boxwood makes it an important addition to landscapes or gardens. Its small, shiny, oval leaves remain dark green throughout the winter. It is a low-maintenance evergreen shrub that also has excellent cold resistance. Requires little or no pruning. But you can cut it off at any time if you want to. It attracts bees to your yard as well as being deer and rabbit-resistant. The types of Boxwood list is incomplete without it.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
- Best Uses: Border, container plant, Mass planting, hedges, screening, general garden use, topiary.
11 of 19: Vardar Valley Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Vardar Valley’)
Vardar Valley is a woody, broad-leafed evergreen, perennial shrub or tree. It is one of the most cold-resistant varieties of boxwood and has distinctive blue-green leaves. Whereas it is a dense, mounding shrub that grows very slowly (usually only 2 inches per year). Whereas when it matures, it becomes 2 to 3 feet high and 3 to 6 feet wide. ‘Vardar Valley’ is a robust and spectacular selection for low hedges. It is also disease-resistant. Performs well in well-drained sandy or clay soils in full sun to partial shade. The blue-green color of the new leaves of Vardar Valley gradually changes to dark green. In spring it also produces non-showy flowers of light green or golden color, whose fragrance attracts bees. Because of these qualities it has been included in the list of types of boxwood.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
- Best Uses: Border, hedge, topiary
12 of 19: Graham Blandy Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Graham Blandy’)
It is a slow-growing, column-shaped broad-leaved evergreen shrub. It has oval, glossy green leaves, which turn dark green as they mature. This bush grows from 5 to 15 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. The requirements of soil, moisture, and light are the same as for other boxwoods. Prune only after the last spring frost date when necessary due to slow growth. This boxwood is straight, tall, black, very beautiful, and column-shaped. These characteristics make them ideal for any garden that lacks slender evergreens.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6 to 8
- Best Uses: Screening, Vertical specimen or accent for foundation plantings, formal gardens, Mediterranean gardens, mixed beds and borders, and large containers.
13 of 19: Tree Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Arborescens’)
It is called Tree Boxwood or Truetree Boxwood. Truetree Boxwood grows 15 to 20 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide. If it is not pruned, it takes the form of a tree. It makes a great choice as evergreen hedges for landscapes. It is a slow-growing, low-maintenance shrub. is an erect, woody, broad-leaved, evergreen, perennial shrub or tree. In terms of sun exposure, you can grow it from full sun to partial shade. Like other boxwoods, it also needs well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Protect with a layer of mulch to retain heat and moisture. Protect them from winter winds. Whereas its pruning should be done after the last frost.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
- Best Uses: Hedge, screening, topiary, guided walks, small groupings, suitable for a privacy hedge in a formal English or cottage garden
14 of 19: Compact Korean Boxwood (Buxus microphylla ‘Korean Compacta’)
Compact Korean Boxwood or Buxus microphylla ‘Korean Compacta’ is one of the smaller dwarf varieties of boxwood. It is perfect for growing as a bonsai or container bush. This is because it is rarely known to be larger than 1 cubic foot in size. In this way, it makes its place even in the smallest garden. You should generally avoid pruning it, as it is believed to grow less than an inch per year.
‘Compacta’ is a dense, compact variety of shrub whose leaves often turn bronze in St. Louis winters. Its leaves are light green in color and thick and evergreen. These leaves can be up to about 1/4″ long. In the spring they bear a few almost insignificant flowers. They grow in uniformly moist, sand-clay mixed soil. The plant prefers soil with a slightly acidic to slightly alkaline pH. It can be grown in full sun to partial shade. But when grown in full shade, the density of their leaves decreases and they become more open.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
- Best Uses: Bonsai, low hedge, potted specimen, Edging or rock garden plants, Accent for small areas.
15 of 19: Golden Weeping Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Aurea Pendula’)
Golden Weeping Boxwood is also known by the following names:
- Buxus sempervirens ‘Aurea-pendula’,
- Aurea-pendula Boxwood, and
- Weeping Variegated Boxwood
Weeping Variegated Boxwood is an evergreen attractive shrub. Its leaves are dark green. These attractive leaves initially have a creamy white color on the edges. These white edges then turn neon yellow during the growing season. This variation and color prowess make it slightly different from other plants and make it exciting and attractive. Its presence adds a real sparkle to the landscape.
It grows to 4 to 6 feet in height and the same width. Sometimes it has been seen to grow up to 8 feet high and wide. Variegated Boxwood is classified as a very easily grown landscape plant. It can be grown in conditions ranging from full sun to partial shade. While prefers rich, well-drained soil. Thanks to its strong root system it is largely drought resistant.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6 to 8
- Best Uses: Accent plant, hedge, foundation plantings, and privacy hedges.
16 of 19: Wintergreen Boxwood (Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Wintergreen’)
Wintergreen Boxwood is also known as
- Korean Boxwood ‘Wintergreen’ and
- Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Wintergreen’.
Wintergreen boxwood, under the Buxus genus, gets its name from its ability to retain its green color during winter. Note: It is not related to wintergreen, a shrub of the Gaultheria genus (which is a group of aromatic plants).
Wintergreen Boxwood is one of the few boxwoods that are hardy to zone 4 with proper care. Wintergreen boxwood shrubs can grow up to 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. It is winter-hardy. This B. Sempervirens grow more rapidly so it requires some pruning.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
- Best Uses: Foundation plant, hedge, topiary. It also works great in planters in formal entryways, decks, and other locations.
Also read: Croton: Plant, Care, Pruning, and all you need to know
17 of 19: Elegans Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Elegantissima’)
‘Elegantissima’ is a dense, mounding, compact form of boxwood that has brightly colored foliage and grows to 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. This bush is naturally spherical, so it can look gorgeous even without pruning. Whereas when cut it becomes very beautiful. The oval, evergreen leaves are medium green with broad but irregular white edges and the white color is not as clearly yellow as in other varieties.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6 to 8
- Best Uses: Accent plant, cottage garden shrub, hedge. Suitable for use as a topiary. Mass to form a narrow hedge.
18 of 19: Buxus Golden Dream (Buxus microphylla ‘Golden Dream’)
Buxus microphylla ‘Golden Dream’ is a compact, slow-growing evergreen shrub that grows to about 2 feet tall when mature. This naturally round-shaped bush has a good growth habit and very dense leaves. The leaves are bright green, decoratively bordered with gold. It is because of its beautiful golden-edged leaves that it has got the name of Golden Dream. This completely hardy plant prefers fertile, well-drained but moderately moist soil. A good dressing of mulch around them is ideal for keeping soil conditions very favorable. This new variety originated in the Netherlands, has a very promising future, and is certainly going to be a favorite in landscapes. With this we learned about our second last types of boxwood.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
- Best Uses: Wonderful in patio or balcony containers, attractive in borders or small groups. Perfect for low steps on hedging or edging.
19 of 19: Highlander Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Highlander’)
Highlander Boxwood is a fast-growing columnar evergreen shrub. It has small dark green leaves which retain their color even in winter. It is 6 to 7 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide. Its interest remains throughout the year. It requires very little maintenance. Performs best in an area with well-drained soil with partial shade. Whereas once established it becomes drought tolerant. But demands moderate water. The main threat is from leaf miners, psyllids, and mites.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
- Best Uses: Accent or group plantings, borders, woodland gardens, foundation plantings, hedges, and containers.
Note: After learning about so many types of boxwood, have you fallen in love with them? if yes! So definitely read the Ultimate Guide to Boxwood, which has a lot of information like how, where, when to grow, care methods, etc.
