Types of Boxwoods: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Right One

Boxwoods are a versatile and low-maintenance shrub that can add beauty and structure to any garden or landscape. They come in a range of shapes, sizes, and growth habits.

There are over 70 species of boxwoods, each with its own unique characteristics. From compact dwarf varieties to towering trees, there's a boxwood to suit every need.

One of the most popular types is the American Boxwood, which grows up to 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide. It's a great choice for hedges, topiaries, and borders.

For smaller spaces, consider the Dwarf Boxwood, which grows only 2-3 feet tall. It's perfect for containers, patios, and small gardens.

See what others are reading: Boxwood Bonsai Trees

There are many types of boxwoods to choose from, each with its own unique characteristics and uses in the garden.

Dwarf boxwoods, such as North Star, Baby Gem, Wedding Ring, and Green Pillow, are perfect for small gardens and can be used as natural-looking groundcover or shaped into round balls or hedges.

These compact varieties grow to be only 1-3 feet tall and wide, making them ideal for accent or border plants in small spaces.

Some boxwoods grow naturally upright, making them perfect for a columnar effect or taller privacy hedge. Dee Runk and Fastigiata are two examples of upright boxwoods that can reach up to 6 feet tall.

Here are some common boxwood varieties, including English Boxwood, American Buxus, and Korean and Littleleaf Buxus, which have over 400 cultivars with a wide range of size, form, and variation in leaf color and shape.

In addition to these common varieties, there are also mounding and dwarf types of Boxwood, such as Green Pillow and Grace Hendricks Phillips, which are comfortable shrubs for instant greenery and fill in around perennials.

Check this out: Most Common Roof Type

English Boxwood is a classic boxwood variety that grows into great showy hedges.

One of the most commonly grown cultivars, it's no wonder why English Boxwood is a favorite among gardeners and landscape designers. Its traditional appeal and charm add a European elegance to any landscape design.

If this caught your attention, see: English Boxwoods

English Boxwood is an evergreen shrub that blooms during the spring, producing rounded and cloud-like foliage. Its glossy, light green leaves are a standout feature of this variety.

This versatile shrub can be used to bring structure and form to any space, making it a popular choice for colonial and royalty gardens, not to mention the White House.

American Boxwood is extremely easy to maintain, making it a great choice for busy gardeners. It's pest and disease resistant, and can withstand cold weather, making it ideal for cooler, northern regions.

This dark green, glossy, evergreen shrub can grow to 10 feet in height, but some older plants can reach up to 20 feet. There are many varieties of American Boxwood, including Dee Runk Boxwood and Fastigiata Boxwood.

The American Boxwood is known for its robust growth, reaching heights of up to 12 to 14 feet and growing 10 feet wide. It's the boxwood of choice for historic estates and gardens.

You might enjoy: Boxwood Green Velvet Size

European boxwood is a popular choice for topiaries and hedges due to its dense, compact growth habit. It's often used in formal gardens and landscapes.

European boxwood is relatively slow-growing, increasing by only 1-2 feet per year. This makes it a great option for those who want a low-maintenance hedge or topiary.

Japanese boxwood, on the other hand, is known for its faster growth rate, increasing by up to 3 feet per year. This makes it a great option for those who want a more dramatic hedge or topiary.

Japanese boxwood is also more resistant to boxwood blight, a disease that can be devastating to European boxwood. This makes it a great choice for gardeners who want a low-maintenance option.

European boxwood, however, is more versatile when it comes to pruning, allowing for a wide range of shapes and styles. This makes it a great option for gardeners who want to get creative with their topiaries and hedges.

Consider reading: Topiary Boxwoods

If you're looking for a common Boxwood variety, you've got several options. English Boxwood is a popular choice, known for its easy-to-grow nature and softly rounded form.

The English Boxwood has an attractive loose, blousey shape that softens the landscape with easy appeal. Unfortunately, the foliage has an odor, which may be offensive to some.

The American Buxus, or common Boxwood, has over 400 cultivars, offering a wide range of size, form, and variation in leaf color and shape. Some cultivars can grow quite large, so be sure to note the maximum growth if using the plant in smaller locations.

Korean and Littleleaf Buxus are also familiar Boxwood bush types found in most nurseries and garden centers.

Here are some key characteristics of these common Boxwood varieties:

If you're looking for boxwood varieties that are perfect for small gardens or containers, you're in luck. Dwarf and compact boxwoods are a great option, and they're incredibly versatile.

These little plants can be used as natural-looking groundcover with light pruning, and they make excellent low borders around garden beds or paths. They can even be shaped into round balls or hedges.

Some popular dwarf boxwood varieties include North Star, which grows to 2-2.5 feet tall and wide, and Baby Gem, which reaches 3 feet in height and width. The Wedding Ring boxwood is another great option, with glossy foliage and lime-colored edges that grow to 1-3 feet tall and wide.

Here are some key characteristics of these dwarf boxwood varieties:

These compact boxwoods are perfect for adding some greenery to your garden or containers without taking up too much space.

Fastigiata Boxwood is a great choice for accenting a door or corner with its narrow, conical shape.

Its dense, slow-growing habit makes it a low-maintenance option for busy gardeners.

Fastigiata Boxwood can grow up to 12 feet tall and 5 feet wide, giving it a substantial presence in the landscape.

Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants, making it a versatile choice for various garden designs.

The pyramidal form of Fastigiata Boxwood adds visual interest to any garden or landscape, and its evergreen foliage provides year-round structure.

Japanese Boxwood is a popular choice for formal hedges, thanks to its bright green, oval leaves. It's hardy in partial sun in zones 6 through 9 and has a good growth rate.

These shrubs can grow up to 5-6 feet high and 4-6 feet wide, making them a great option for providing year-round interest and appeal to landscapes. They're extremely popular in the south due to their evergreen foliage and low maintenance.

Japanese Boxwood develops small, delicate greenish-cream flowers in April and May, adding a touch of elegance to any garden. The leaves can also turn a light bronze in winter sun, adding a pop of color to the landscape.

Here are some specific varieties of Japanese Boxwood to consider:

Dwarf Varieties are perfect for small gardens, containers, or as a low border around garden beds or paths. They're easy to shape and maintain, making them a great choice for busy gardeners.

Baby Gem Boxwood grows to only 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide, making it a perfect size for an accent or border in a small garden. It also retains its green color well in winter, adding a pop of color to your landscape design.

North Star Boxwood is another great option, growing to only 2 or 2.5 feet tall and wide in sun or shade in zones 5 through 9. This makes it ideal for small spaces or for creating a low, rounded shape.

Green Pillow is a dense and compact variety that grows to just over a foot in height and 3 feet across in zones 5 through 8. It's a great choice for adding texture and interest to your garden without taking up too much space.

Here are some popular Dwarf Varieties to consider:

These Dwarf Varieties are perfect for adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to your garden, without taking up too much space.

Mountain Boxwood is a popular choice for landscaping due to its bright green foliage, clean classic look, and low maintenance. It can grow up to 5 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide, making it ideal for short hedgerows as foundation plantings.

One of the standout features of Mountain Boxwood is its upright, pyramidal form, which sets it apart from other Boxwood varieties. This shape makes it an excellent choice for topiaries and accent shrubs.

Planting Mountain Boxwood in large containers on either side of your front door can add a dramatic display to your exterior. The bright green foliage will maintain its color throughout the winter months, providing year-round interest.

Here are some key characteristics of Mountain Boxwood:

Mountain Boxwood can thrive in a variety of conditions, from full sun to partial shade, making it a versatile choice for many gardeners.

The Sprinter Boxwood is a fast-growing variety that's perfect for compact gardens. It's known for its excellent resistance to Boxwood Blight.

This Japanese boxwood can grow up to 4 feet tall and wide, but with regular trimming, you can keep it at any of those heights.

With its compact size, the Sprinter Boxwood is ideal for hedges, topiaries, or even a small boxwood border.

The Northstar Boxwood is a low-maintenance option that requires very little trimming to maintain its natural globe shape.

It's a great choice for gardeners who want a hassle-free experience. Northstar Boxwood can reach 2.5 feet tall and wide, making it a compact variety.

This variety holds its green color in the winter, which is a bonus for those who want year-round interest in their garden.

Winter Gem Boxwood is a hardy and versatile shrub that's perfect for adding structure to your landscape design throughout the year. It's known for its soft green leaves that take on a bronze hue in the winter.

This boxwood variety can grow up to 4-6 feet tall and wide if untrimmed, making it a great choice for hedges or specimen plants in larger gardens. It's also tolerant of Boxwood Blight.

The natural shape of Winter Gem is rounded, but it handles pruning into topiary shapes very well. This makes it a great option for those who want a bit of creativity in their garden design.

Here's an interesting read: Winter Gem Boxwoods

Here are some key facts about Winter Gem Boxwood:

Overall, Winter Gem Boxwood is a great choice for gardeners who want a low-maintenance and visually appealing shrub that will add structure to their landscape design throughout the year.

Mid-Sized and Large Varieties of Boxwoods are perfect for screens and privacy hedges. They can grow up to 8 feet tall and 2 feet wide, making them a great option for those who want a more substantial hedge.

Some popular mid-sized varieties include Vardar Valley, which is disease resistant and suitable for zones 5 to 8 with a nice tight, low growth habit. Another option is Rotunidfolia, which has the largest leaves of the cultivated forms and is shade tolerant, reaching 4 to 5 feet in height.

If you're looking for a larger variety, consider Pyramidalis, which forms an almost perfect cone shape and grows slowly to 5 feet with no need to shear to keep the elegant shape.

If you're looking for mid-sized boxwoods that are compact and easy to maintain, consider the 'Winter Gem' variety, which grows up to 3 feet tall and wide.

This variety is a great choice for hedges or topiaries, as it requires minimal pruning to maintain its shape.

The 'Winter Gem' boxwood is also relatively slow-growing, making it a low-maintenance option for busy gardeners.

For a slightly taller mid-sized boxwood, the 'Green Velvet' variety grows up to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide.

It's a dense and compact variety that's perfect for hedges or screens, and its small leaves make it a great choice for small gardens.

The 'Green Velvet' boxwood is also relatively heat-tolerant, making it a good choice for gardens in warmer climates.

The 'Japanese' boxwood is another compact variety that grows up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide.

It's a great choice for small gardens or containers, and its small leaves make it easy to prune and maintain.

The 'Japanese' boxwood is also relatively slow-growing, making it a low-maintenance option for gardeners of all skill levels.

Broaden your view: How Tall Do Japanese Boxwoods Grow

The English Boxwood is a great choice for gardeners who want a low-maintenance option with a soft, rounded form and lush foliage. Unfortunately, the foliage has an odor that may be offensive to some.

If you're looking for a Boxwood that can grow quite large, the common, or American Buxus, is a good option. With over 400 cultivars to choose from, you're sure to find one that fits your needs.

Some American Buxus cultivars can grow quite large, so be sure to note the maximum growth of the specific cultivar you choose. This is especially important if you're using the plant in smaller locations.

The common, or American Buxus, is a versatile option that can grow in a wide range of sizes, forms, and leaf colors and shapes.

Here's an interesting read: How Fast Do Japanese Boxwoods Grow

If you're looking for some real showstoppers in your garden, consider the specialty and unique varieties of Boxwood. The Buxus sempervirens series offers vertical interest with its upright growth habit.

For a more dramatic effect, try the 'Dee Runk' Boxwood, which can grow up to 8 feet tall with a slender profile of only 2 ½ feet wide. Highlander is another great option, with rapid growth of up to 24 inches per year.

Mounding and dwarf types of Boxwood, like Green Pillow and Grace Hendricks Phillips, are perfect for adding instant greenery and filling in around perennials.

Dee Runk Boxwood is a unique and versatile variety that's perfect for narrow spaces and formal gardens.

This evergreen shrub can grow up to 10-12 feet in height, making it a great option for adding some greenery to your landscape design.

Its broad-leafed, shiny, and tiny green leaves are a standout feature, and they're ideal for creating a formal or elegant look in your garden.

Dee Runk Boxwood can thrive in sun or partial shade, giving you flexibility in where you choose to plant it.

Korean Boxwood is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that can grow up to 2 feet high and 4-6 feet wide at maturity.

Its small, dark green leaves create dense foliage, making it an ideal choice for low borders and lining driveways.

These shrubs grow in a rounded shape and can be easily sheared into different, eye-catching shapes.

Korean Boxwood can grow in colder climates, giving you more flexibility in your landscaping choices.

If you're looking for a versatile and low-maintenance shrub, consider the Gem Boxwood. This variety is perfect for mass planting, border edging, topiary, and container planting.

The Green Gem Boxwood has a relatively fine texture compared to other landscape plants and grows into a neat, cute, and little ball. It's a great choice for adding structure to the landscape design throughout the year.

Baby Gem Boxwood is the little brother of the Winter Gem Boxwood and is perfect for a low hedge along walkways or driveways. It typically reaches only 3 feet in height and width.

Related reading: Planting Boxwoods

Winter Gem Boxwood is one of the hardiest boxwood shrubs available and is fast-growing and tolerant of Boxwood Blight. It can reach up to 6 feet tall and wide if untrimmed.

Here are some key features of the Winter Gem Boxwood:

The Winter Gem Boxwood has many uses throughout your garden, including being planted as a hedge or as a specimen plant in a larger garden.

Golden Dream Boxwood is a stunning addition to any landscape design. It's known for its rich green variegated foliage accented by bright golden edges.

This shrub can grow up to 2 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide, making it a great option for compact spaces. It's also a great choice for low to medium hedges.

Golden Dream Boxwood works beautifully as an accent or specimen plant, adding a pop of color and texture to your garden. It's also a great option for container gardens or patio pots.

Here are some key characteristics of Golden Dream Boxwood:

Overall, Golden Dream Boxwood is a versatile and attractive shrub that can add beauty and interest to any garden.

Winter Boxwood is a winter-hardy, slow-growing broadleaf evergreen perfect for evergreen hedges and borders.

These shrubs can grow up to 3-4 feet high and 3-5 feet wide, making them a great choice for adding some greenery to your outdoor space.

Wintergreen Boxwood shrubs are tolerant to pruning and shearing, allowing you to mold them into unique, attractive shapes to bring interest to the landscape.

They also work great in planters in formal entryways, decks, and other locations.

Explore further: Are Boxwoods Evergreens

The Wedding Ring Boxwood is a unique and beautiful variety that's perfect for adding a touch of elegance to your garden. It's a compact, slow-growing boxwood that's ideal for hedges, topiaries, or even container gardens.

This variety is known for its small, rounded leaves that are a vibrant green color, making it a great choice for adding some color and texture to your garden. It's also a great option if you're looking for a low-maintenance boxwood that can thrive in a variety of conditions.

For more insights, see: Do Boxwoods Change Color

The Wedding Ring Boxwood is a sterile variety, meaning it won't produce any seeds, which makes it a great choice for gardeners who want to avoid the hassle of seed production. It's also relatively pest- and disease-free, making it a great option for gardeners who are new to growing boxwoods.

It's worth noting that the Wedding Ring Boxwood can be a bit more expensive than other varieties, but its unique characteristics and low-maintenance requirements make it a worthwhile investment for many gardeners.

I've got a soft spot for Green Ice Boxwood - it's a game-changer for manicured hedges or topiaries. The leaves are small and dense, so they stay looking neat and tidy even after trimming.

The compact growth habit of Green Ice makes it perfect for small gardens or spaces where you want a big impact.

Recommended read: Small Boxwoods Shrubs

If you're looking for a mid-size boxwood, 'Suffruticosa' is a great choice. This mounded shrub is made up of small and ovate leaves that are a mid-shade of green with a little hint of gloss.

It's a slow-growing shrub, so think twice before heavy pruning. You don't want to remove too much growth! 'Suffruticosa' is tough and tolerant to many diseases and insects, making it a dependable addition to your garden.

This variety will thrive in full sun to partial shade and can grow to a height of 2-3 feet. It's perfect for a foundation garden or to spruce up a walkway quickly.

The Tide Hill boxwood is a beautiful spreading variety that's perfect for those who don't want a tidy boxwood shape. It's a slow-growing shrub that reaches 1-2 feet in height.

Its bright green leaves hold their color all winter long, making it a great choice for year-round foliage. This variety responds well to pruning or smaller haircuts if you want to keep it neat.

Tide Hill boxwood thrives in full sun to partial shade and is hardy in zones 5-8. If you're looking for a low-maintenance option, this is a great choice.

Here are some key facts about the Tide Hill boxwood:

Beauty Boxwood is a wonderful choice for gardeners looking for a low-maintenance option. It's heat and drought-tolerant, making it perfect for areas with extreme weather conditions.

The Green Beauty Boxwood plant can grow up to 6 feet tall and wide, and can thrive in containers with minimal care. This variety is a great option for gardeners who want a lush, full look without the hassle of frequent watering.

If you're looking for a more compact option, 'Chicagoland Green' is a great choice, growing only 3-4 feet tall. This variety is also extremely versatile, tolerating pruning and shaping into topiaries or hedges.

Here's a comparison of the two boxwood varieties:

Both varieties are great options for gardeners in hardiness zones 4-9, and are known for their deep green and glossy color.

Hybrid Varieties offer a great solution for gardeners living in colder climates. Graham Blandy Boxwood can grow up to 9 feet tall and has excellent resistance to Boxwood Blight.

These hybrid varieties are bred to be more cold-hardy than classic boxwoods. If you live in USDA zones 4 to 5, you should have success with one of these special varieties.

Some popular hybrid boxwood varieties include Green Gem, Green Mountain, and Glencoe. Green Gem's foliage turns bronze in winter.

Green Mountain stays green all year long and grows upright, making it a nice cold-hardy topiary or accent shrub. Glencoe comes from the Chicago Botanic Garden and has uniform growth.

These hybrid varieties can thrive in a variety of sun exposures, making them a great option for gardeners with different sunlight conditions.

On a similar theme: Green Mountain Boxwoods

If you're looking for a statement piece in your garden, try an upright Buxus cultivar. These plants can withstand frequent shearing to keep them in a habit that suits your needs.

Buxus sempervirens series offers vertical interest, making them perfect for adding a touch of drama to your garden.

Buxus fastigiata is a 5 to 8 foot tall specimen, great for creating a tall hedge or screen.

The 'Dee Runk' variety may grow 8 feet tall with a slender profile of only 2 ½ feet, adding a touch of elegance to your garden.

For a more rapid growth, consider the Highlander variety, which can grow up to 24 inches per year.

Mounding and dwarf types of Boxwood are great for filling in around perennials and adding instant greenery to your garden.

Green Pillow is a low mounding form that gets just over a foot tall with a 3-foot spread, perfect for adding a touch of texture to your garden beds.

For a more compact option, consider the Grace Hendricks Phillips variety, a high ranking form of dwarf Boxwood.

Here are some larger Boxwood varieties perfect for screens and privacy hedges:

Chicagoland Boxwood is a popular variety known for its cold hardiness and resistance to boxwood blight. It can thrive in USDA zones 4-8, making it a great choice for gardeners in the Midwest.

This boxwood variety grows at a moderate rate, reaching a height of 3-4 feet and a spread of 3-4 feet in a matter of years. It's a compact shrub that's perfect for hedges, topiaries, and borders.

Chicagoland Boxwood has small, rounded leaves that are a vibrant green color, providing a beautiful contrast to other plants in the landscape. The leaves are also relatively small, measuring about 1-2 inches in length.

Discover more: Can You Keep Boxwoods Small

Newport Blue Boxwood is a lovely columnar growing boxwood that thrives in full sun to partial shade conditions.

Its height ranges from 5-6 feet, making it an excellent choice for hedges or privacy screens. I've seen this variety used to great effect in formal gardens, where its deep-green and glossy leaves add a touch of elegance.

Newport Blue is also highly tolerant of heavy pruning, allowing you to shape it into whatever form suits your garden style.

Here are some key facts about this variety:

Its bluish-green new growth in the spring is a lovely bonus, adding a pop of color to the garden before settling into its familiar deep-green hue.

Velvet Boxwood is a stunning variety that's perfect for adding some greenery to your garden. It has a naturally rounded form, making it an excellent choice for hedges.

This plant can grow quite large, reaching 4 feet tall and wide, but it can also thrive in smaller spaces.

To maintain its shape, give it regular haircuts as needed. You can also plant it as a hedge or as part of a mixed evergreen border.

Green Velvet Boxwood prefers full sun to partial shade and can tolerate hardiness zones 5-8.

Check this out: How Big Do Green Velvet Boxwoods Get