16+ Luscious Boxwood Varieties With Pictures + Care Tips

I love Boxwood plants. They are fairly small, but they grow quickly. You can find them in pots in the garden center, tucked away amongst the other pots of perennial flowers like begonias and jasmine. It’s not easy to find them in a big box of plants, but they are worth looking for. They feel a little like a small tree and have a tuft of white hair at their base. This is a very pretty plant and it will give more color to your outdoor space, but it will probably be a little slower growing than the other boxwoods that you see in your area.

Boxwood is a large evergreen perennial with a wide range of interesting uses. For one, it can be grown as a container plant, creating a pleasing display of beautiful leaves. It will also thrive in any garden bed once established. In fact, its glossy leaves and well-defined leaf structure will enhance the overall look of any landscape or garden area. Boxwood plants are poisonous, however. Minor skin irritation can last for a few minutes if the plants come in contact with human skin. In extreme cases, the leaves can cause respiratory failure and nausea if eaten.

When it comes to exquisite landscaping, there is one option that everyone gardener or homeowner would go for, and that is the Boxwood shrub. With its evergreen lifecycle, Boxwood varieties are endless and so are their uses which makes them an irresistible choice for many.

Care

 

These shrubs are the perfect remedy to keep your garden at a total bliss all year long. Pruning these shrubs is extremely easy, even a novice can do it as well and the best part is we can trim the way we like and make different shapes out of them.

With a history of over 400 years, almost all of the varieties are still great options today to decorate our gardens and make them look perfect during all seasons. There are a lot of varieties to choose from according to your desire, which is why every house owner chooses one or the other and makes them a permanent part of their gardens.

Like every plant, there is a proper way to nourish your shrub and avoid things like Boxwood blight. Since all Boxwood types can handle both summer and winter seasons, still they require the proper amount of attention and grooming time by time. The ideal place to plant your Boxwood shrub would be somewhere where it can get a bit of sun and shade at the same time.

Ideally in Summertime, almost all Boxwood plants require shade and too much direct sun can destroy the leaves, so giving the right amount of shade is very important in this perspective. Whereas in the winter season, these shrubs should be avoided to get any dangerous winter winds as it can cause what is commonly known as winter bronzing.

Whenever you plant any type of Boxwood variety – make sure to give them the right amount of water, as in their early stages they require the proper amount of water to get their roots nourished in the right manner to grow as a fully rooted shrub plant. The best and most important routine to keep your shrubs healthy is to prune them at their time, if we prune them in the wrong way the shrub health can come down.

Always it is best to consult your gardener before the pruning of shrubs and other plants. Different boxwood varieties require separate care to get them fully nourished all year long. Moreover, the PH of soil and its moist level plays a vital and critical part in making a shrub grow to its fullest potential in all seasons to come over the span of the year.

Let us go through some of the best Boxwood types and see how each of them are so unique from each other and how we can use them in our landscaping plans.

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16 Boxwood Types

1. English Boxwood (Dwarf Boxwood Shrub)

The English Boxwood is also known as the Dwarf shrub due to its smaller size as compared to other of these shrub varieties. Due to its smaller size and much easy to handle pruning routine, this Dwarf shrub is a favorite among many- great for formal hedges with its beautiful green foliage.

One of the best features of this popular shrub is the round shape which comes to it naturally, so designing and giving it a nice round shape is very easy. Plus due to its dense leaf structure, it covers all the areas very well, giving it a very clean look. Due to its root being shallow inside this dwarf shrub requires good protection from the sun to avoid root damage.

If well maintained this dwarf shrub can reach a height of three-foot or a little more if nourished properly.

2. American Shrub (Buxus Sempervirens)

American shrub, also known as Buxus Sempervirens, is a ten feet high dense and dark greenish shrub that can withstand the roughest of winter weather and wind storms. Due to its resistance to harsh weather, it is used in regions where cold weather is predominant during the year. The dark green color of it gives the perfect contrast when present in the snow.

3. Dee Runk Boxwood

Dee Runk Boxwood from https://t.co/0OZRXpGvKn #Gardening pic.twitter.com/MIawsSnmNJ

— Garden Plants and Flowers (@send_flowers_) October 9, 2019

If you have limited space or love vertical growth, then the Dee Runk shrub is simply just perfect for you to plant. The vertical oval-shaped shrub can grow up to 10 to 12 feet with broad dark green leaves. Ideal if you want to place them in your office as they give a very formal appeal.

4. Fastigiata Boxwood

Not favorite among many due to its triangular shape, but one has to admit that it is one of the most unique shrubs in the world. The leaves of this shrub are tiny, oval, and highly glossy.

5. Vardar Valley Boxwood

Relatively the size of the Vardar Valley variety is smaller as compared to other of its family. Most commonly adopted in the hillside and mountain range areas, it requires a good amount of moist soil and a high level of PH to stay fully nourished. With the passage of time and the right care, it has the potential to grow into a tree of a good size as well.

6. Japanese Boxwood (Buxus Microphylla)

Are you a patient person? If the answer is Yes, then only plant this shrub. The Japanese Boxwood variety can really test your patience level due to its slow growth rate. But the slow growth rate is fruitful as it is able to give you beautiful little flowers as well, which can really brighten up your garden. The most important part is to keep it in relatively moist soil than other plants.

7. Green Beauty Boxwood

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4-Pack Green Beauty Boxwood (1-Gal) https://t.co/ZbA7ZJUBWc pic.twitter.com/FLthJ2gq1w

— DealsPlus (@DealsPlus) June 7, 2020

Small dreamy spaces go so well with this shrub species, as it can totally change the look of the place it is planted. Due to its less sun requirement, most people like to put up these in shady indoor areas. The most uses for it are to be used a garden border or fence, as it is thick in nature making it a good candidate for custom cutting.

8. Morris Midget Boxwood

Buxus Boxwood "Morris Widget"https://t.co/d1emaDqtT7
Morris Midget is a dwarf variety that is tidy, dense, and compact. #greenfoliage #gardeners #yard #yardplants #flowers #plants #landscaping #nature #outdoors #greenthumb pic.twitter.com/Y6rFp8zOa2

— Human Potential Labs (@hpl9156) March 10, 2020

One of the best varieties of Boxwood when it comes to dwarf sizes. This is a shrub that is ideal to be used in making fancy boundaries and circles around flower beddings. Only at 12 – 18 inches, they are a favorite among children as well. Moreover, a lot of plants can be used as companion partners for them as well.

9. Morris Dwarf Boxwood

This is just like the Morris Midget variety, but with a little bit of size and dimension variation which can range from 2 – 3 inches in total area. Unlike other Boxwood shrubs, this has a slightly different color of green and yellow mixed together.

10. Korean Boxwood (Buxus microphylla)

The Korean variety is one of a kind as it can blossom beautiful creamy flowers in springtime. Most people like them due to their changing appearance in different seasons. In summers they are pure dark-leafed shrubs and in winters they tend to turn a little bronze in color. The ideal size of the Korean boxwood variety is around 2 feet. Due to its perfect seasonal adaptation to weather, it can survive the harshest of weather, but it’s best to place it in partial sun and shady area.

11. Golden Dream Boxwood

As the name suggests, the Golden Dream variety leaves are pale yellow giving it the golden name. The height of these can go up to three feet tall.

12. Green Beauty

BOXWOOD
Green Beauty, Green Mountain, Green Tower & Green Velvet – We've got boxwoods for everyone! ON SALE NOW – 25% off. pic.twitter.com/OTAt3A7Dd7

— Devitt's Nursery (@devittsnursery) August 26, 2018

The Green Beauty is one of few shrubs which can retain its leaves in the harsh summer season. Even in the drought seasons, it can hold up pretty well. With an average height of six feet, this shrub variety is liked by many living in desert areas.

Hybrid Boxwood Varieties

You probably have guessed the nature of this type just by the name of it. There are many varieties that come under this particular category, but to name a few, check below.

13. Green Gem Boxwood (Buxus microphylla var. koreana x Buxus sempervirens)

Generally, due to its shallow roots, it’s perfect for this shrub to be placed separately among other plants. The leaves of this shrub are broad and they are in perfect shape in the spring season. The average size of this variety grows to 3 to 4 feet in height.

14. Glencoe Boxwood

If you want a shrub that stays upright and in a good condition in the winter season, then you should opt for this boxwood variety. It is quite amazing how this 4 ft tall shrub stays so well in harsh winter seasons and most importantly the leaves remain in their original color with a hint of gloss.

15. Green Mound Boxwood

Green Mound Boxwood grows upto 1'-2' low hedges #Vancouver image onlineplantguid pic.twitter.com/72g9tgmnrF

— Frost Nursery (@Whatsgrowingon1) July 1, 2016

 

Do you enjoy pruning your shrubs all year long? The Green Mound shrub variety allows you to do it then. The leaves are medium and oval in shape and the mid-size of the shrub allows you to decorate it among plants perfectly.

16. Green Velvet Boxwood

Very similar variety to the Green Mound shrub, as it remains at a decent height with well-lit dark green in all seasons, making it the perfect choice for every gardener and homeowner.