plant

Japanese Boxwood is a handsome evergreen shrub with dense, lime-green foliage that lights up the landscape. The rounded leaves are somewhat larger that most other boxwood varieties. As with many other boxwoods, this one responds very well to shearing so is ideal for use as a hedge or sheared into formal shapes such as a globe, dome, square, pillar, or pyramid. Spring flowers are insignificant, though quite fragrant. It is very heat tolerant and deer won’t touch it!

Landscape & Garden Uses

If allowed to grow naturally to its mature size, the Japanese Boxwood will reach 5 to 6 feet or so in height with an equal spread, but is often kept much smaller with occasional pruning or shearing at 3 to 4 feet in height. It’s medium size makes the Japanese Boxwood a perfect choice for home foundation plantings, natural or clipped hedges or to accentuate entryways. When clipped to geometrical shapes it makes an eye-catching specimen in landscape borders or containers and planters.

Suggested Spacing:  3 to 4 feet apart for solid hedges; 6 feet or more apart for space between plants

Note:  For our customers who live and garden north of  USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a, where this boxwood is not winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

The Japanese Boxwood is exceptionally easy to grow when planted right and in the right spot. It adapts to most soil types, preferring a moist but well drained soil. As with so many other plants, a constantly soggy or wet soil can be problematic. It prefers mostly sun but will tolerate some light shade. In our gardens it has demonstrated exceptional drought, heat, disease and pest resistance.