Green Velvet boxwood

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade is helpful in hot climates. Shelter from drying winter winds.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist while establishing. Once established, water deeply during prolonged dry spells; avoid waterlogged soil.

Soil

Well-drained loam, clay loam or sandy soil with organic matter; slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil is suitable.

Height

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Spread

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Foliage

Small, oval, deep-green leaves in opposite pairs; dense evergreen growth with lighter green new shoots.

Growth

Slow; commonly a few inches of growth each year.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.9 ft (0.57 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.1 ft (0.64 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.3 ft (0.71 m)

5. After 5 years

   2.8 ft (0.84 m)

About 8 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant with the root flare at soil level or slightly above it; do not bury the base of the stems.
• Water deeply during dry weather for the first two growing seasons, keeping irrigation off the leaves where possible.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root zone, leaving a gap around the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or a soil test indicates a deficiency.
• Remove trapped dead leaves from inside the shrub and keep fallen foliage cleared away.

Pruning. Remove dead or damaged shoots in late winter or early spring, then lightly shape after the main spring flush has hardened. Keep hedges wider at the base, thin crowded shoots occasionally, and avoid clipping during wet weather or late enough to encourage tender growth before frost.

Late winter

Check for wind scorch, snow damage and dead shoots; prune damaged wood in dry weather.

Spring

Plant when the soil is workable, refresh mulch and check whether feeding is needed.

Late spring

Lightly clip hedges or rounded shapes after the new growth firms up.

Summer

Water during extended dry spells and inspect for webbing, caterpillars, leaf mines and sudden leaf loss.

Autumn

Clear fallen leaves and debris from beneath and inside plants; avoid late feeding and hard clipping.

Early winter

If the soil is dry, water before it freezes; protect exposed young plants from drying winds.

• Plant as a low clipped hedge to define paths, terraces or small garden compartments.
• Use rounded plants at entrances or path junctions to provide repeated evergreen structure.
• Edge rose or perennial beds with a green framework that remains visible in winter.
• Grow in large, well-drained containers for a formal courtyard, allowing for more frequent watering and winter root protection.

Garden styles it suits: Formal, English country, French parterre, Tudor knot garden, Topiary garden and Winter interest.

Plant it with: Roses, Peonies, Hardy geraniums, Japanese anemones, Hellebores and Daffodils.

Wildlife: Small spring flowers can attract bees and other insects when plants are allowed to flower. Dense foliage offers shelter, but this shrub is not a substitute for locally native wildlife planting.

• Box blight: dark leaf spots, black stem streaks and rapid leaf drop need prompt attention. Stop clipping, avoid overhead watering, disinfect tools and remove affected material according to local guidance; badly affected plants may need removal.
• Box tree moth: caterpillars produce webbing and can strip foliage. Inspect regularly where the pest occurs, hand-pick small infestations and use locally approved caterpillar treatments when necessary.
• Boxwood leafminer: yellowish blotches and blistered leaves can contain larvae. Prune out affected growth before adults emerge in spring; seek local treatment advice for severe infestations.
• Root rot in poorly drained soil: yellowing, wilting and dieback may follow persistent saturation. Improve drainage, reduce watering and replace badly affected plants rather than replanting into the same wet conditions.

All parts, especially the leaves and bark, are toxic if eaten by people, cats, dogs and horses. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain; substantial amounts can cause serious poisoning, particularly in horses. Keep clippings away from pets and livestock, and contact a poison service or veterinarian if ingestion is suspected.

• Japanese holly (Ilex crenata)

  Its small leaves are alternate rather than opposite and usually have finely scalloped edges; female plants may carry black berries.

• Small-leaved Japanese spindle (Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus')

  It also has opposite leaves, but their edges have fine teeth, unlike the smooth leaf margins of boxwood.

Buxus is the classical Latin name for boxwood.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer and root them in a free-draining medium under humid conditions. Cuttings preserve the cultivar; seedlings will not reliably resemble the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Buxus

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.