Are there different varieties of boxwood?

While the most familiar forms are what are commonly referred to as “American” (Buxus sempervirens) and “English” (Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’) boxwood, there are about 90 species and over 365 different cultivars, including Japanese and Korean varieties.

What is the best boxwood variety?

If you want a small, compact, low-growing shrub to form a hedge that serves as an accent or border along your walkway, fence line or planting beds, dwarf boxwood varieties are the best pick. The “Dwarf English” boxwood (Buxus sempervirens “Suffruticosa”) creates a border hedge approximately 1 to 2 feet in height.

What is the most popular boxwood?

For centuries, the most popular cultivar grown has been the so-called English boxwood (Buxus sempervirens Suffruticosa), a slow-growing dwarf with small leaves.

What to plant around boxwoods?

Good companion plants with textural contract include thyme, hosta, lady’s mantle, lirope, germander, rosemary or sage. Combine boxwood with low-growing shrubs with yellow or dark-colored foliage.

How do I plant boxwood shrubs?

When placing a boxwood shrub in its planting hole, leave the top 1/8 of the root ball above the soil level, fill in with soil and water the planting site thoroughly. If the shrub is wrapped in burlap, then it can be planted anytime during spring through early summer. If it’s in a container, then plant it during the period from spring to early fall.

Which does boxwood grow the tallest?

The tallest can grow to heights of around 20 feet. Boxwoods vary in height quite widely, depending on the species and cultivar. The tallest are cultivars of the common or American boxwood (Buxus sempervirens). This is by far the most common boxwood and it’s also the species with the most cultivars — around 400.

How much space between boxwoods when planting?

If the intention is to grow a small and formal hedge, plant the boxwoods 6 to 8 inches apart. If using the larger-growing varieties that have taller mature heights, space the plants 18 to 30 inches apart, as recommended by the Purdue Cooperative Extension.