Main Types and Varieties of Boxwood Shrubs
Boxwoods come in a delightful range of shapes and sizes, making it easy to find the right one for just about any garden space or wild idea you have in mind. Some stand tall and upright, others form neat little globes, and a few are happy to sprawl out and create enchanting, low-growing borders—perfect for pretending you’re a giant in a miniature hedge kingdom (just like my brother and I did!).
Here are some of the most common varieties you’ll run across:
- English Boxwood: Classic and traditional, these are the slow-growing, dense bushes you’ll often see lining a formal garden or clipped into topiaries that would make an English manor jealous. Their small leaves and graceful form make them perfect for intricate, historic designs.
- American Boxwood: Often larger and more vigorous than their English cousins, American boxwoods offer a slightly lighter green leaf and can grow into impressive specimens over the years. While they aren’t native, they’ve become a mainstay in many U.S. landscapes—think stately estate drives and old Southern gardens.
- Japanese Boxwood: For those braving hotter, more humid climates, Japanese boxwoods step up to the plate. With their tolerance for both heat and lower temperatures and their cheerful, bright green leaves, they’re a versatile favorite for hedging or foundation plantings.
- Korean Boxwood: Hardy souls, these. Ideal for chillier gardens (and fellow Zone 4 survivors), Korean boxwoods are compact and cold-tolerant, with tidy leaves that hold their color even through the dreary days of winter.
- Variegated Boxwoods: If you like a little pizzazz, variegated types bring cream or gold-edged leaves to the party. They’re striking in containers or as accent shrubs in cottage gardens.
No matter which type you choose, boxwoods’ dense, fine foliage practically begs to be trimmed into fanciful shapes or kept as a well-behaved hedge—there’s a reason so many historic homes still proudly frame their front walks with them.
I should note deer avoid them because they are toxic. They are also toxic to cats and dogs, apparently. (We’ve had a lot of cats and dogs around over the years and not one has taken it upon themselves to try and eat a boxwood.) I’ve heard they’re also toxic to horses but I don’t know if that’s true.
Common Problems and Pests Affecting Boxwoods
Over the years, I’ve discovered boxwoods are deceptively tough, but they’re not completely immune to trouble. If you ever spot yellow leaves, it’s enough to make any boxwood lover’s heart skip a beat! Unfortunately, this is one of the most common signs your shrub might be under stress—and there are several possible culprits.
Here’s what I’ve learned to watch out for:
- Root rot: This sneaky issue often creeps in with soggy, poorly drained soil. Boxwoods like their roots to be just right—not too wet, not too dry.
- Drought stress: On the flip side, super dry spells (looking at you, late July) can also turn boxwood leaves yellow or brown.
- Nematodes: These microscopic troublemakers can attack the roots, especially in sandy soils, causing stunted growth and sad-looking foliage.
- Leaf miner: You might notice tiny, blistered leaves—these are the calling card of the dreaded leaf miner, a pest that tunnels inside the leaves.
Other possibilities include winter burn (when cold winds dry out leaves) or just plain old trauma from accidental knocks or garden tools (I’ve had to apologize to my shrubs after a vigorous wheelbarrow mishap or two).
The best way I’ve found to prevent most of these issues? Start with well-drained soil, be gentle on roots when planting, and give your boxwoods some protection from harsh winter winds and blazing summer sun. If you spot signs of pests like leaf miners, you can try a targeted treatment or snip off affected branches—just don’t forget to disinfect your pruners to avoid accidentally spreading problems!
10 tips to care for Boxwoods
Boxwood blight
#1 tip to care for boxwoods: Sanitizing tools to prevent blight
Timing for boxwood care
#2 tip to care for boxwoods: When is the best time to plant a boxwood?
#3 tip to care for boxwoods: When should boxwoods be cut back?
#4 tip to care for boxwoods: How to thin your boxwood
Boxwoods may be tough, but they’re not exactly camels—especially when they’re young or growing in pots. My first mistake? Letting a newly planted boxwood dry out during one of Charlottesville’s legendary August scorchers. Lesson learned: young boxwoods want their soil to be evenly moist, never bone-dry, but they also despise soggy “swamp” conditions. Get in the habit of checking the soil with your finger; if it’s dry about an inch down, it’s time to water.
A few other watering tricks I’ve picked up:
- Water deeply, but not too often. You want the roots to go searching downward, not hanging out at the surface.
- Morning is best. Water early in the day so leaves dry out quickly—boxwoods don’t love wet foliage hanging around, since it can encourage pesky blight.
- Skip the sprinklers over top. Stick with a soaker hose or simply direct your watering can at the roots. (It’s less about pampering, more about keeping disease at bay.)
If you’re container growing, boxwoods will dry out even faster, especially during sunny Virginia weeks. Those folks with planters on the front porch: check yours every day during the summer, and don’t be afraid to give them a good drink more regularly than their in-the-ground cousins.
Above all, remember the golden rule: soggy soil and boxwood roots are mortal enemies. Good drainage is your friend—whether you’re planting them in the yard or in terra cotta pots rescued from grandma’s barn.
Nourishing Boxwoods
#5 tip to care for boxwoods: When should boxwoods be fertilized?
I learned this via an online search years ago and I am including the exact verbiage here:
Boxwoods benefit most from some fertilizing in spring to promote green growth or in late fall to promote root growth over winter. And know when not to add fertilizer: It’s never a good idea to fertilize boxwoods in the heat of summer, late in summer, or in winter. Fertilizing in late summer, before cool fall temperatures, can harm the plant by forcing new leaf growth just before winter cold and dormancy.
#6 tip to care for boxwoods: What fertilizer works best for boxwoods?
#7 tip to care for boxwoods: How do you mulch boxwoods?
Do boxwoods need full sun?
Like all things in the garden, the initial spot a boxwood is planted makes a difference. The best site includes partial sun year round and some protection from harsh winter winds. If you don’t have partial sun year round, they’ll likely do fine in a full sun environment. I’ve planted a few in full sun and they are happy!
Propagation: Bottom Branches of Boxwoods Self-Root
My grandfather used to place bricks on the bottom branches of his healthy boxwoods. The branches would make contact with the soil below and immediately start rooting themselves. Then he would take off the brick, dig up the branch (that now has roots), and plant that branch in fertile soil elsewhere.#8 tip to care for boxwoods: How do you cut the bottom branches?
Can boxwood grow in full shade?
Boxwoods can definitely survive in full shade (think: less than four hours of sunlight a day). That said, they may not look quite as lush or dense as their sun-soaked cousins. In my experience, boxwoods grown in heavy shade tend to be a little leggier, and their leaf color sometimes loses that rich, vibrant green. If you’re tucking them under dense trees or up against shaded fences, just expect a looser shape and maybe a lighter hue. But they’ll hang in there—boxwoods are nothing if not tough!
How fast do boxwood shrubs grow?
If you’re wondering just how quickly (or slowly) boxwoods will reward you with those lush green walls, let’s set expectations: patience is key. Boxwoods are, shall we say, more tortoise than hare in the garden world. Most types will add just a few inches each year—think somewhere in the range of 3 to 6 inches of new growth annually. The dwarf varieties are even more leisurely and might only manage a half-inch to an inch per year, which is, frankly, adorable and a little bit maddening if you’re hoping for instant hedges.
So, if you’re dreaming of a towering, secret garden labyrinth straight out of an English manor, just know you’re in for the long game. (And honestly, part of the charm is watching them slowly fill in over the years!)
#9 tip to care for boxwoods: What to know when planting a boxwood.
They should be planted slightly higher than you think– the roots are shallow– I put them in the ground just at the level of the highest root offshoot. It’s critical that the soil is well drained so sometimes you need to add a little gravel in this thick Virginia clay. I use a combination of some kind of organic miracle gro type product for shrubs, compost, gravel, and the clay that’s already making up the soil.
#10 tip to care for boxwoods: Why are the leaves on my boxwood turning yellow?
Apparently nitrogen deficiency is the culprit when lower leaves start yellowing, especially older leaves inside the plant. You can buy special nitrogen fertilizers if that happens.
How do you prevent snow from hurting your boxwood?
I made the horrible mistake our first winter here of going outside after a snowstorm and grabbing a broom to knock the snow off of the branches. Somehow it miraculously worked and saved the boxwood branches that were bending over from the weight of the snow. I got reeeeeally lucky.
PSEUDO-TIP: What we should have done, and what I’ve seen around our neck of the woods, is folks loosely tie a string around the branches and even cover each boxwood in a burlap sack prior to a big storm coming. That prevents the weight of the snow (or ice) from bending the branches over and killing them. It’s a big pain to do though when you have a lot of tall boxwoods! So…. do as I say, not as I do, because I’ve never done this but I know it’s the right thing!
Enjoy them!
Boxwoods are beautiful to behold and fun for kids to play in. My kids now have a little “house” within one of our biggest boxwoods and it makes me happy they’ve organically recreated the game my brother and I used to play decades ago. With any luck, our boxwoods will be around for years and years to come for the next generation of “houses” too! :)
Shaping Boxwoods for Formal Gardens and Topiaries
Boxwoods really lend themselves to formal shapes and classic topiaries thanks to their petite leaves and tidy growth habit—think crisp hedges lining the drive or those charming little spirals by the front door. If you want to train a boxwood into a certain shape, start by lightly pruning to maintain your design, snipping here or there as needed rather than going wild with the shears. For hedges or geometric forms, just keep up with periodic trims to encourage that neat, defined look.
If you notice the outer layer gets especially dense (which it will with English boxwoods), reach in with hand pruners and snip out a few of the older interior branches. This keeps the plant healthy by letting in air and a little sunshine—much better for the boxwood in the long run and helps you avoid the dreaded dieback that can spoil your masterpiece. Remember: slow and steady with the shaping; there’s no rush, and a few gentle sessions a year are all you need to keep things looking sharp without stressing the shrub.
Great info on Boxwoods. thank you,,,,
How do you know?
Thanks for this! I remember playing in boxwoods as a kid :)
Seems like a lot of us have those awesome memories :)
Great info, we have a couple of Boxwoods on our property and this is very helpful!
So glad to help out! Hopefully you’ll learn from my mistakes, haha :)
I had no idea you could propagate boxwoods!! I have a row of 8 so I’ll have to give it a try!
You totally should try it! Let me know how it goes! :)
Great tips. Thank you. I always wanted and loved boxwoods. Finally bought 7 Green Velvet variety. Very small ones. I planted them last year before fall so they would be established before winter. And I covered them with mulch and burlap in November. In the spring, I was excited to see if they survived the winter. They did! Letting them grow bigger before I prune them into a round shape. Happy they’re doing great so far.