6 Amazing Types of Boxwood Shrubs

By Calin Oancea and Florin Gabriel

4/9/20245 min read

Boxwood shrubs are a gardener’s trusted type of bush. With their dense foliage and robust nature, they serve as ideal candidates for hedges, borders, or as standalone accents in a garden. Here, we explore 6 amazing types of boxwood shrubs, each with its unique set of advantages ready to cater to diverse gardening preferences.

green design
green design
green design
green design
a garden with a lot of varieties of boxwood shrubs
a garden with a lot of varieties of boxwood shrubs
a type of boxwood shrub called English Bowood
a type of boxwood shrub called English Bowood

English Boxwood

The English Boxwood is known for its slow growth which leads to less pruning, compact stature and low maintenance is a typical shrub in the boxwood (boxus) family. These perennials ability to craft low, well-defined hedges or borders makes it a good choice for your garden.

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dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
the  Wintergreen boxwood with small green leaves
the  Wintergreen boxwood with small green leaves

Living up to its name, the Wintergreen Boxwood is green all year similar to most of the other boxwood shrubs. While it is a relatively fast growing shrub compared to the English Boxwood, and can reach heights of up to 1,5m (5 ft) if left unchecked, providing ample scope for creating dense, tall hedges.

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green design
green design
green design

Wintergreen Boxwood

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green design
Green Mountain Boxwoods with a pyramidal shape
Green Mountain Boxwoods with a pyramidal shape

Green Mountain Boxwood

The Green Mountain Boxwood is distinguished by its naturally pyramidal shape, making it a prime choice for topiaries or formal gardens. A notable advantage of this variety is its resistance to boxwood blight, a common disease among boxwoods, promising a healthy, long-lasting green presence in your garden.

dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
a row of bushes in a garden
a row of bushes in a garden

Green Velvet Boxwood

If a round, compact shrub catches your fancy, the Green Velvet Boxwood is the way to go. Its lush, smooth foliage forms a soft, rounded complex of green branches, perfect for creating gentle hedges or borders. It is a great evergreen bush and resistant to cold temperatures, ensuring its attractive appearance across all seasons.

dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design

Japanese Boxwood

The Japanese Boxwood, with its slightly looser and more natural growth habit, is perfect for a less formal, more relaxed garden setting. It's highly tolerant of shearing, making it a flexible choice for various design applications. Although it counts to the fast growing shrubs, it may require more frequent pruning to maintain a good appearance.

a type of boxwood called Japanese Boxwood
a type of boxwood called Japanese Boxwood
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
a green Korean Boxwood bush
a green Korean Boxwood bush

Korean Boxwood

If you are in a region with colder climates, the Korean Boxwood is a good choice. Known for its winter hardiness, it flaunts small evergreen leaves that render a fine texture, adding a elegance to your garden. Despite its robust nature, it's fairly a small low-maintenance bush that adapts well to various soil conditions and sun exposures.

dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design

Read more about: Types Boxwood shrubs

FAQ

How long do boxwood shrubs live?

With proper care, boxwood shrubs can live for decades and some historic gardens feature boxwoods that are over a century old. Regular boxwood maintenance, including watering, pruning, and disease management, is key to their longevity.

How often should I water my boxwood shrubs?


In our experience Boxwood shrubs require well-drained soil and should be watered once a week, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. During hot, dry periods, watering frequency may need to increase to prevent the soil from drying out completely.

Are boxwood shrubs susceptible to any diseases?


Yes, boxwood shrubs can be susceptible to several diseases, including boxwood blight, root rot, and leaf spot. Maintaining proper spacing for air circulation and avoiding overhead watering can help prevent these issues. Regular inspection and prompt removal of affected parts are crucial for disease management.

Can boxwood shrubs grow in shaded areas?


While boxwood shrubs prefer partial to full sun, they can tolerate shaded conditions. We experienced that the growth may be slower, and the foliage less dense in heavily shaded areas. For optimal health and appearance, providing some amount of direct sunlight is beneficial.

Sources

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  1. Boxwood Maintenance: How to Care for Boxwood (southernlivingplants.com)

  2. Boxwood diseases: Identifying Diseases In Boxwood - Information On Boxwood Disease Treatment | Gardening Know How

  3. English Boxwood: English Boxwood: Is It Worth It? - Gardenista

  4. Green Velvet Boxwood: Buxus 'Green Velvet' (Boxwood, Green Velvet Boxwood) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

  5. Green Mountain Boxwood: Buxus 'Green Mountain' | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

  6. Korean boxwood: Buxus sinica (Boxwood, Korean Boxwood) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

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Calin Oancea
Calin Oancea
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Article By:

Calin has been in the garden industry for 5 years and knows a lot about gardening and plants. He owns this website and is responsible for most of the content.

Reviewed By:

Florin, a more technical guy, is responsible for designing, reviewing and updating the articles but also optimizing for SEO so that everything we publish is deam good.