Boxwood in the Garden

Okay, for those of you who know me, you know I love my boxwood! I particularly love it this time of year when it starts flushing out with all its new chartreuse green growth. At my own home, I’ve bordered the entire front and backyard with hedges and topiaries of various sizes and shapes.

There are many different types of boxwood, but Buxus japonica (Japanese boxwood), Buxus macrophylla (winter gem and green beauty) are probably the most common boxwood you will find and use here in Southern California. Green Tower and Green Mountain boxwood from Monrovia are good, durable, vertical-growing specimens as well. Boxwood are great when a traditional or formal style garden is desired, and this is achieved by creating crisp clean hedges, parterres, or like in my garden, using eye-catching topiary globes to edge each side of the front walkway.

Boxwood are also great when a low 3-4 foot high “green fence” is desired. Once established, boxwood are pretty much drought-tolerant, and they love full sun. Boxwood also do best in well-drained soil, and they don’t like to sit in “wet feet” as they can get root rot. 

Another striking way to use boxwoods, which I especially love doing, is in pots of various sizes and styles. Terracotta and boxwoods are stunning when grouped en masse, creating a decorative and timeless design. 

As far as maintaining boxwood, I trim mine about 3 times per year, which I find preserves the form and style that I like. However, depending on the look you’re going for, trimming less frequently could work, too. 

Below are some pictures of boxwood in my yard that I took the other day, and hopefully, this inspires you to go out and try this green beauty in your own garden! (Winter Gem boxwood used as various hedging throughout the landscape.)