Scientific Name Buxus sempervirens
Common Name American Boxwood
Hardiness Zone (5) 6 to 8
Size 15 to 20' with an equal spread possible but usually kept smaller
Growth Rate Slow
Exposure Sun to shade
Group Shrub - Evergreen
Characteristics Opposite, strong white midrib on the back, indentation on the tip. Leaf is small (<1"), dark green above, light green below.
Petiole short with tiny hairs.
Discolours to brown in cold winter.
Yellow flowers, fragrant, April to May,
Prune in late winter to avoid frost damage next season.
Landscape Uses There are many cultivars available with different sizes and shapes.
'Suffruticosa' (Dwarf English Boxwood) is very slow growing and can be kept to under 1' tall. It is a true edging plant. The leaves are small and less pointed than the species.
History There are Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' plants that are 150 years old and only 3' tall.