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Boxwood
Buxus
Boxwood is grown for its foliage rather than flowers, giving the garden structure and color all season long.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Boxwood
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 5–9. Expect it to reach about 3.9 ft tall and 3.9 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 4 years.
When to plant Boxwood
Plant Boxwood in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 5 to 9 range, spring means March to May and fall means September or October.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 7 in March.
Comes in 7 varieties
Same plant, same care - pick the variety you are growing.
Good to know about Boxwood
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
All parts are toxic to dogs, cats and horses (bitter steroidal alkaloids); a nibble mostly causes an upset stomach, and the foliage can irritate skin. per ASPCA and NC State
Worth knowing
Orange-brown winter leaves are not a disease but drought stress: frozen or dry soil starves the shallow roots while winter sun and wind pull water from the leaves. per Clemson and NC State
Full sun or some shade?
Not a real disagreement: full sun is fine and grows denser in mild climates, but in cold, windy sites give shelter from winter sun and wind to prevent bronzing. per NC State and Clemson
Shear or thin?
Both work together. Shearing alone builds a dense shell that traps still air and invites fungal disease, so thin out whole stems periodically to open the interior to light. per NC State and Clemson
Boxwood blight has no cure
This fast fungus makes dark leaf spots and black stem streaks, can strip a plant within days, and survives at least five years in fallen leaves. Buy clean, inspected stock. per Clemson and Wisconsin
Deer and rabbit resistant
One of the most deer- and rabbit-resistant evergreens: browsers leave it alone, most likely because the bitter alkaloids that make it toxic also make the foliage taste bad. per NC State
Species grows far larger
Common boxwood can reach 4.5 to 6 m (15 to 20 ft) if left unpruned, but most hedges use compact and dwarf cultivars kept far smaller by breeding and shearing. per NC State
What pairs well with Boxwood
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
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