Discover the various types of boxwood you can use in your formal or informal garden for that wow factor as you learn more about the most common landscaping bush.
Boxwood shrubs are one of the most adaptable plant species in the entire plant kingdom. They are evergreen shrubs that keep their green foliage throughout the whole year.
The landscape of your lawn can use these shrubs for various purposes, both in terms of form and function.
Boxwoods are available in a range of forms, dimensions, and densities. In actuality, there are over 365 different varieties and about 90 different species. Thanks to their wide varieties, you can do almost anything in your yard with these shrubs.
Boxwood plants are excellent for defining areas around your home because they respond well to shaping and shearing. You can build a privacy hedge impervious to wildlife intrusion along the property line.
Without much ado, let’s discuss some different types of boxwood.
1. English Boxwood
Due to its slow growth, English boxwood is referred to as dwarf boxwood. English boxwood is a highly fashionable and sophisticated evergreen shrub that can add beauty to any landscape, despite its slow growth.
English boxwood is found in several upscale locations, including the White House and the Williamsburg, Virginia, colonial gardens.
The shrub is prized for its gorgeous round, densely packed, light-green leaves. At maturity, the plant can grow to a height of three feet; however, different varieties frequently have different growth sizes. All different types of English boxwoods can be maintained with the aid of pruning.
Furthermore, you must protect English boxwood from extreme heat because its roots are shallow. Around the plant, there should be a layer of garden mulch for protection. However, be careful not to mulch the bush’s trunk as this could attract unwanted pests.
2. American Boxwood
American boxwood, also referred to as Buxus Sempervirens in science, is a glossy, dark-green, evergreen shrub that requires little maintenance and is resistant to pests and diseases.
Also, American boxwood, also referred to as common boxwood, can reach heights of up to 10 feet; some varieties can even get 20 feet.
American boxwood is a dark-green shrub that may be suitable for people in colder or cooler climates because it can withstand shallow temperatures and strong winds. The fact that these bushes frequently withstand drought is even more impressive.
Even though the hardy American boxwoods resist many diseases, they occasionally fall prey to root rot, canker, and nematodes.
3. Dee Runk Boxwood
Dee Runk, known by its botanical name Buxus sempervirens, is a narrow, upright-growing evergreen shrub with broad leaves. The tall plant can grow up to 10 to 12 feet tall and has oval-shaped, dark green leaves.
This shrub can be used in an enclosed area’s front or back of the house. The plant is ideal if the owner prefers partial shade or full sun. This is one of the different types of boxwood.
4. Fastigiate Boxwood
This shrub has dense, dark-green foliage and is evergreen. It has tiny, glossy, oval leaves that typically stay dark green all year. It develops in a pyramidal shape that draws bees.
Despite this, deer tend to avoid such shrubs, so the plant is unpopular with them. For hedges or screening, fastigiata boxwood is the best choice. The best part is that they coexist peacefully with other nearby plants.
5. Vardar Valley Boxwood
It grows naturally on rocky hillsides and in wooded areas as a small, rounded tree. The evergreen plant has a propensity to reach the height of a massive tree.
The shrub develops elliptical, oval, and oblong-shaped leaves as it ages. The leaves of Vardar Valley are dark green, just like those of other American boxwoods.
Make sure to grow this glossy shrub in moist soil with a pH balance of slightly acidic. It is best to prune the shrub in the early spring because it is pruning tolerant.
This will encourage the healthy growth of new leaves that the previous spring’s frost might have killed. Also, the plant requires additional protection during winter because mites may attack it.
6. Japanese Boxwood
Japanese boxwood (Buxus Microphylla), also known as little leaf box, is an evergreen shrub with a slow growth rate similar to English boxwood. Despite its slow growth, the shrub can withstand pruning and is suitable for engraving.
Since this hardy plant remains evergreen from April through May, its blooming season coincides with spring.
This full-rounded plant has striking green leaves that resemble a low hedge when it is in full bloom. The shrub also has male and female flowers, and flies and bees are responsible for pollinating it.
Furthermore, making sure the soil is well-drained and has an acidic pH level is essential for the healthy growth of Japanese boxwoods.
The foliage has a strong, overpowering pungent smell when the soil is wet. Also, both full sun and partial shade are suitable for growing the plant; the only requirement is that the soil is moist.
Furthermore, It is a low-maintenance plant that only needs the occasional cleaning. You won’t need to prune as often because it grows slowly.
Depending on how neatly manicured the owner wants their shrub to be, pruning should ideally be done once or twice a month.
Also, Regularly water the plant, but give it time to dry out in between. Do not forget to fertilize three times per year. This is one of the different types of boxwood.
7. Green Beauty Boxwood
This is an excellent option for tiny hedges. The best feature of green beauty boxwood is that it keeps its dark green foliage even during the hottest summer months. Green beauty boxwoods are more drought and humidity tolerant than other boxwoods.
This evergreen hedge needs some to all of the sun for healthy growth. It develops at a moderate rate, reaching heights and widths of 4 to 6 feet.
Green beauty has a variety of landscaping applications; for instance, the shrub is suitable for highlighting entrance areas and foundation beds.
You can also create a lovely fence or border out of the dark green gem. Birds and small animals can find shelter in its thick vegetation.
8. Morris Midget Boxwood
This is a small, dwarf boxwood with extremely dense evergreen foliage. This boxwood variety is the best choice if one wants to grow a low hedge or an edge for walkways and gardens.
Dwarf hedge plants require regular watering and partial to full sun for full growth, just like green beauty boxwood.
Morris midgets have a slow growth rate and can reach heights and widths of up to 12 inches and 18 inches, respectively. The following are some recommended companion plants: spirea, maiden grass, coneflower, lilac, and gayfeather.
9. Morris Dwarf Boxwood
Morris dwarf is a slow-growing plant that can reach heights of one to two feet and widths of one to two inches.
Also, Morris dwarf is a low-maintenance plant that only needs occasional watering because it is a small yellowish-green shrub. However, the plant requires moist, well-drained soil and partial to full sun.
Furthermore, remember that this tiny plant is insect-resistant and has a hardiness range of 5 to 8. This is one of the different types of boxwood.
10. Korean Boxwood
Korean boxwoods are a broadleaf evergreen plant with an upright growth habit that reaches a height of about 2 feet and the botanical name Buxus Sinica Insularis.
The shrub’s shape tends to widen rather than get taller as it ages and develops an open-branch structure. They are a very dense plant with evergreen leaves like many other boxwoods.
Again, Korean boxwoods are striking to look at in the summer when the leaves are a deep, rich green. The leaves usually take on a more bronze hue in the winter.
The shrub produces scented, cream-colored blossoms in the spring, which bees use to pollinate the flowers. By the time fall arrives, these flowers have transformed into seed capsules.
A cold-hardy shrub, Korean boxwood can easily withstand harsh winters down to USDA hardiness zone 4. It’s crucial to pick a location with moist, loamy soils that receive some sunlight.
The evergreen foliage might require defense against desiccation, which occurs when there is no moisture during the winter.
Therefore, it is crucial to grow Korean boxwoods in areas that can shield them from chilly winter winds. Otherwise, they risk getting burned by the winter.
Also, this particular variety of boxwood makes an excellent hedge or border plant. To maintain its green foliage, you will need to perform a task called pruning. Never be afraid to clip it into shape when required.
11. Green Gem Boxwood
Green gem boxwood, referred to as Buxus, is an evergreen shrub with broad leaves that typically blooms in the spring.
The plant thrives in well-drained soil, medium in moisture, a little acidic, and partially to completely shaded. Also, the evergreen shrub, which can reach a height and width of 3 to 4 feet, is prized for its rounded shape.
Avoid growing the shrub close to other plants or with shallow roots because wind circulation could harm the shrub.
Furthermore, this plant needs to be grown in a protected area in USDA Zones 4 and 5 to avoid being damaged by strong winds during the winter.
Additionally, cover the shrub in the winter to prevent snow from building up on the stems and branches. This is one of the different types of boxwood.
12. Glencoe Boxwood
Glencoe boxwood, also called Chicagoland Green Boxwood, is an evergreen shrub that retains its gleaming green foliage all year round.
The plant is considered to be cold-hardy because of this. Also, this particular variety of boxwood resembles English boxwoods because both have the ideal oval low hedge.
Furthermore, regular watering is necessary for the dark green plant, especially during intense heat. This small shrub can grow to a maximum height and width of 3 to 4 inches. The lovely shrub produces white blossoms this spring, drawing many birds.
13. Green Mound Boxwood
The green mound is one of the different types of boxwood that is a low hedge shrub with oval-shaped, medium-sized leaves.
The admirable quality of this plant is that its foliage stays green all year long. This boxwood is tolerant of pruning, and shearing is another fantastic quality.
Furthermore, the boxwood variety needs full shade to some sunlight to grow. It is crucial to avoid exposing it to direct sunlight as this may cause winter scorch or mite infestations on the plant’s foliage. This is one of the different types of boxwood.
14. Green Velvet Boxwood
This boxwood has a dense body and is ideal for low hedges. Like green mound boxwood, the plant maintains its original green hue all winter. Also, the best part is that it requires little upkeep and requires neither routine watering nor trimming.
Lilac, maiden grass, weigela, and coneflower are a few of the companion plants that will enhance green velvet boxwood. A beautiful round evergreen adds rich color, texture, and structure to any garden.
Without the addition of beautiful boxwood, any landscape design in contemporary construction is lacking. The best way to improve these planned spaces is to have them in the garden, backyard, porch area, front lawn, or driveways.
