Sprinter 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 loam with organic matter; slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil is suitable.

Height

2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m)

Spread

2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m)

Foliage

Small, glossy green leaves in opposite pairs; dense evergreen growth, sometimes bronzing in exposed winter conditions.

Growth

Moderate; relatively fast for a compact boxwood.

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

   2 ft (0.6 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.3 ft (0.7 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.6 ft (0.8 m)

5. After 5 years

   3 ft (0.9 m)

   full size

About 4 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

Fast

• Water at soil level, checking beneath the surface before watering again; do not leave roots standing in water.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root zone, 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, and leave enough space between plants for air circulation.
• Check regularly for caterpillars, leaf damage and sudden browning; clean pruning tools between plants.

Pruning. Shape in late spring after the first flush of growth, keeping hedge tops slightly narrower than their bases. Thin crowded shoots selectively rather than repeatedly shearing only the surface, and avoid hard trimming in late summer or autumn.

Early spring

Check for winter injury and remove dead shoots once new growth reveals which stems are alive.

Spring

Plant when the soil is workable, refresh mulch and feed lightly only if needed.

Late spring

Trim the first flush of growth to shape hedges or rounded specimens.

Summer

Check soil moisture and inspect foliage for box tree moth caterpillars, leafminer damage and disease.

Autumn

Remove fallen diseased leaves and water during dry weather before the ground freezes.

Winter

Protect exposed container roots in cold regions and gently remove heavy snow before branches split.

• Edge paths or flower beds with a low clipped hedge for a clear, year-round outline.
• Use rounded specimens beside entrances or steps to repeat a simple shape.
• Grow in large, well-drained containers in sheltered courtyards; protect the roots from severe frost.
• Place in front of roses or taller perennials to provide evergreen structure when those plants are dormant.

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

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

Wildlife: Small spring flowers provide some pollen and nectar for insects. Dense foliage offers shelter for small birds, but this is not a substitute for a diverse planting of locally suitable flowering and native plants.

• Boxwood blight: rapid leaf loss, brown leaf spots and dark stem lesions need prompt attention. Stop clipping, remove infected material according to local guidance, clean tools and avoid overhead watering; replacement with a non-boxwood shrub may be necessary.
• Box tree moth: green-and-black caterpillars, webbing and rapid defoliation occur in affected parts of Europe and increasingly in North America. Inspect inside shrubs, hand-pick small infestations and use locally approved caterpillar controls while larvae are young.
• Boxwood leafminer: blistered, yellowing leaves may contain larvae. Prune out affected growth before adults emerge where practical, and seek locally appropriate treatment advice for repeated severe damage.
• Root rot: yellowing, wilting and dieback can follow prolonged saturation. Correct drainage, reduce watering and replace badly affected plants rather than replanting boxwood in the same wet conditions.

All parts contain toxic alkaloids and are poisonous if eaten by people, cats, dogs and horses. Chewing or swallowing foliage can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain; substantial ingestion can cause serious poisoning, particularly in horses. Never put clippings where grazing animals can reach them.

• Common box (Buxus sempervirens)

  Usually has somewhat larger, more elongated leaves and can become a much larger shrub, though compact cultivars overlap in appearance. A reliable label is needed to identify Sprinter confidently.

• Japanese holly (Ilex crenata)

  Its leaves alternate along the stems and have finely scalloped edges; boxwood leaves occur in opposite pairs and have smooth edges. Female Japanese hollies may carry black berries.

• Box honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida)

  Has finer, more wiry shoots with pointed leaves and a looser, often arching habit unless clipped. Boxwood has thicker, blunter leaves and sturdier branching.

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

Propagation. Semi-ripe cuttings taken in summer can root in a free-draining medium under humid conditions. Cuttings retain the cultivar's traits; seedlings do not. Check plant patent or plant breeders' rights restrictions before propagating this named cultivar.

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.