American boxwood? English boxwood? Japanese boxwood? What’s the difference?!
American boxwood, Buxus sempervirens, has many different cultivars. For example- Graham Blandy (Buxus sempervirens ‘Graham Blandy’) is an American boxwood variety. Most American boxwood cultivars are cold tolerant, with leaves that are rather long ovals with more pointed tips.
English boxwood, Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’, is a dwarf boxwood and is technically a form of American boxwood. It is a dense variety with more oval leaves.
Japanese boxwoods, Buxus microphylla japonica, are very adaptable. Wintergreen boxwood (Buxus microphylla japonica ‘Wintergreen’) is an example of a Japanese boxwood. Japanese boxwoods are typically very heat tolerant.
Probably the plant of choice for all kinds of hedges and topiary as it takes pruning exceptionally well, a broadleaf evergreen that’s best with some shelter from the winter sun and wind.
A stunning broadleaf evergreen with small white-edged leaves, makes a spectacular color accent in the garden, takes pruning exceptionally well, give some protection from winter sun and wind.
Has a more columnar habit than other boxwoods; its narrow shape makes it ideal for formal hedges or topiary or for vertical accent; slow growing; takes pruning exceptionally well.
A dwarf, broadleaf evergreen with fine-textured, small, glossy green leaves; perfect for topiary and formal shaped hedges; takes pruning exceptionally well, give some protection from winter sun and wind.
A stunning broadleaf evergreen with small creamy white-edged leaves makes a spectacular color accent in the garden, takes pruning exceptionally well, give some protection from winter sun and wind.
A very unusual fastigiate form becoming more prevalent; grows as a narrow column of dense deep green leaves; may not be as hardy as other types, it is best with some shelter from the winter sun and wind.
A compact, hybrid, broadleaf evergreen that is clipped and maintained in a perfect globe form; makes a great accent or garden detail plant, very popular and one of the hardier varieties.
A hybrid broadleaf evergreen with a small, compact rounded shape, ideal for very low hedges; holds its color well in winter.
A compact hybrid broadleaf evergreen with a pyramidal shape makes a great accent hedge or garden detail plant, very popular and one of the hardier varieties.
A broadly mounded hybrid of this broadleaf evergreen that takes pruning exceptionally well; very versatile in the landscape, makes a great low hedge, also useful for topiary.
One of the smallest and most compact boxwoods you’re going to find, this forms a tight and dense little mound of small bluish-green evergreen foliage, wider than tall, no pruning necessary to keep it in bounds in your garden.
A naturally compact and mounded shrub that’s wider than tall, very uniform in habit; dark bluish-green evergreen foliage and slightly contorted branches give it a very distinctive appearance, takes pruning very well.
This compact boxwood is great for smaller areas; foliage bronzes in winter adding seasonal interest; an extremely versatile shrub that’s ideal for small and formal hedges or topiary, takes pruning exceptionally well.
One of the very hardiest of the broadleaf evergreens, small rounded and compact growth habit, excellent for low hedges or detail use in the garden, takes pruning exceptionally well.
