Littleleaf boxwood

Sun

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

Water

Keep evenly moist but not waterlogged while establishing. Established plants tolerate brief dry spells, but need deep watering during prolonged drought.

Soil

Well-drained soil enriched with organic matter; tolerates clay if drainage is good. Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil suits it.

Height

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m), sometimes taller with age; varies by cultivar

Spread

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m), sometimes wider with age; varies by cultivar

Flowers

Small, inconspicuous yellow-green flowers in spring.

Foliage

Evergreen. Small, opposite, oval to rounded green leaves. Some plants turn bronze or orange-brown in cold weather, especially in exposed positions.

Growth

Slow

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Heat tolerant
• 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

• Water deeply at soil level during establishment and extended dry spells; avoid frequent shallow watering.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the roots, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or a soil test indicates a deficiency.
• Avoid digging around the shallow roots or planting where water collects.
• Inspect regularly for caterpillars, leaf spotting and sudden leaf loss; clean pruning tools between plants.

Pruning. Clip lightly in late spring or early summer after the first flush of growth, keeping hedges wider at the base than at the top. Thin crowded branches selectively for airflow, and avoid late-season clipping that encourages tender growth before frost.

Late winter

Check for wind damage and snow-splayed branches; wait until growth resumes before deciding which browned shoots are dead.

Spring

Plant when soil is workable and not waterlogged, refresh mulch, and feed only if needed.

Late spring

Lightly shape hedges and topiary after the first flush of growth.

Summer

Water during dry spells and inspect for box tree moth caterpillars, webbing and disease symptoms.

Late summer

Take semi-ripe cuttings from healthy, pest-free shoots.

Autumn

Remove fallen diseased leaves and water before the ground freezes if the soil is dry.

• Clip into low hedges to define paths, beds and small formal gardens.
• Use rounded plants beside entrances or steps for balanced, year-round structure.
• Repeat clipped mounds among flowering perennials to give borders a steady framework.
• Grow in large, well-drained containers in sheltered courtyards, allowing for more frequent watering and reduced root hardiness.

Garden styles it suits: Formal, French parterre, Tudor knot garden, Topiary garden, Japanese and Modern courtyard.

Plant it with: Roses, Catmint, Hardy geraniums, Hellebores, Japanese forest grass and Snowdrops.

Wildlife: Spring flowers provide pollen and nectar for visiting insects. Dense foliage offers shelter, but a tightly clipped hedge provides less wildlife value than a mixed, flowering hedge.

• Box blight: dark leaf spots, black stem streaks and rapid defoliation need prompt attention. Remove affected material and fallen leaves, disinfect tools, avoid overhead watering and consider replacement with a non-box shrub where outbreaks recur.
• Box tree moth: caterpillars strip leaves and leave webbing. Hand-pick small infestations and use a locally approved caterpillar treatment where necessary; check local reporting requirements where this pest is newly established.
• Root rot: yellowing, wilting and dieback can follow prolonged waterlogging. Improve drainage and reduce watering; badly affected plants may need removal.
• Winter bronzing or scorch: cold, sun and drying winds can discolour leaves. Keep roots adequately watered before winter and provide shelter; bronzed foliage may green up again, while dead shoots should be removed after growth resumes.

All parts are toxic if eaten by people, cats, dogs and horses, especially the leaves and bark. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain; substantial ingestion can be serious, particularly in horses. Keep clippings away from pets and livestock, and seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion.

• Common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)

  Usually has larger, more elongated, darker green leaves and can become a much larger shrub or small tree. Cultivars overlap, so leaf size alone is not a reliable identification.

• Japanese holly (Ilex crenata)

  Leaves grow alternately along the stems rather than in opposite pairs, often have fine scalloping, and female plants can bear black berries.

• Japanese spindle (Euonymus japonicus)

  Has larger, thicker leaves with visibly toothed margins; boxwood leaves have smooth margins.

Buxus is the Latin name for box, and microphylla means small-leaved.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and root them in a free-draining medium with gentle humidity. Use healthy stock; cuttings preserve cultivar characteristics, while seedlings may differ.

Accepted botanical name

Buxus microphylla

Native range

Japan.

Measured

Average height 81 cm.

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