Boxwood (Buxus)
[BUKS-us]
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Evergreen Perennial Shrub in the Buxaceae Family
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About Boxwoods
Commonly known as “Boxwoods,” these hardy, prunable, evergreen shrubs are a staple across much of the US. Boxwoods are happy in part shade to full sun (if watered enough) and can grow up to 9” a year, making them a smart option for privacy plantings or anyone who just really loves to prune things. Boxwoods will grow from 1 foot to 20 feet high, depending on the variety and growing conditions.
Boxwoods don’t have to be pruned, but their small, glossy leaves are so dense that you can prune these shrubs heavily without exposing bare branches. Because they’re evergreen, they offer year-round color and texture, privacy, windblock, and the faint but inescapable smell of cat pee (just kidding, that’s only the dwarf English variety ‘Suffraticosa.’)
Buxus ‘Glencoe’ is a reliably cold-resistant variety developed in the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois (shop local, baby!)
Buxus ‘Green Mountain’ is a cone-shaped variety of boxwood that offers bright green foliage and grows slower than most other varieties.
Buxus ‘Green Velvet’ is a short, dense, rounded, winter-hardy variety that retains a vibrant green throughout the cold season.
Buxus ‘Wilson’ is another local legend (developed in Hampshire, Illinois) that turns bluish-green during the warmer months and transitions to a very dark black-green in the cold season.
Buxus sinica var insularis ‘Winter Gem’ turns a bronzed color in the winter, but greens up quickly in early spring.
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Pros
- Evergreen
- Fast-growing
- Prunable
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Part shade to full sun tolerant
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Cons
- Prone to Boxwood blight a fungal disease that stays in the soil.
- Can show “dieback,” which causes bald spots in the shrub
- Need to be watered often
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Plant Data |
Mature Size |
12 - 240 inches
tall. 12 - 240 inches
wide.
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Sun Exposure |
Partial Shade - Full Sun |
Moisture Tolerance |
Medium : Moist, well-drained soil.
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Zones |
5a - 9b
(Usually hardy to -20° F)
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Tags |
Attracts Birds, Container, Deer Resistant, Evergreen, Formal Garden, Full Sun, Good for Asian Garden, Good for Borders, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Hedges, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Medium, Medium, Most Popular, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Potentially Allergenic, Rabbit Resistant, Shrub, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Winter Interest
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Bloom Period |
Evergreen
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Foliage Color |
Green
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Rankings |
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Related Articles |
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More Info from Experts |
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Commonly Planted with...
Daisies, Roses, Hydrangea, Thyme, Hosta, Lady's Mantle, Lirope, Germander, Rosemary, Sage.
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Photos of This with...
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