Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Wintergreen’
Overview
Uses: Low hedges, edging, foundation plantings, and outdoor containers.
Benefits: A tough Korean boxwood that keeps its rich green color through cold winters better than most. Compact and dense, it shears easily into neat low hedges, edging, or formal shapes.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Broadleaf Evergreen Shrub
Growth Habit: Rounded, Mounding — compact and dense.
Foliage Color: Rich Green
Mature Height: 2–4 feet
Mature Width: 3–5 feet
Growth Rate: Slow
Summary
Boxwood that stays green when winter sets in.
Wintergreen is a Korean boxwood selection, valued for holding its rich green color through cold winters when many boxwoods turn yellow-bronze. That steady color is the reason it shows up in so many northern foundation plantings.
It grows compact and dense, reaching about two to four feet tall and three to five feet wide. The small leaves and tight branching take shearing well, so it can be kept as a crisp low hedge, a neat edging along beds and walks, or a simple ball or block in a formal garden.
Growth is slow, which keeps shaping easy and lets it hold a given size for years. It also adapts well to containers, where it can frame an entry or patio through every season.
Care
Wintergreen Boxwood Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. It handles more sun than many boxwoods and still holds its color.
Boxwood needs well-drained soil and will decline in ground that stays wet. It tolerates a range of soil types, including clay that drains reasonably well, and prefers a pH near neutral.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season. Boxwood roots are shallow, so a one-to-two-inch layer of mulch helps hold moisture; keep mulch a few inches away from the stems. Established plants handle short dry spells, and a deep watering before the ground freezes helps prevent winter burn.
Feed lightly in early spring with a slow release fertilizer. Boxwood does not need heavy feeding.
Shear in late spring or early summer after new growth hardens, and again lightly in midsummer if you want a crisp formal edge. Avoid shearing late in the season. Good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering help keep foliage healthy. Where boxwood blight is present in your area, space plants so air can move between them and clean pruning tools between plants.
Growing in Containers
Boxwood grows well in containers and is a classic choice for flanking a door. Use a pot with drainage holes and a quality potting mix, water whenever the top inch of mix feels dry, and feed lightly in spring, since frequent watering washes nutrients out. Roots in containers experience greater cold exposure than roots in the ground. Plants hardy in the ground may require winter protection when grown in containers in colder zones.
Size
What Size is the Wintergreen Boxwood for Sale Online?
Our Wintergreen Boxwood ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Evergreen foliage stays on through shipping, though leaves may show some winter bronzing in the off-season. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Wintergreen Boxwood Grow?
Expect about 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide at maturity, in a compact, rounded mound. It is easily kept smaller with shearing. Space plants about 18 to 24 inches apart for a tight low hedge.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
It is most often called Korean boxwood or littleleaf boxwood, and like other boxwoods is often simply called boxwood.
Does it stay green in winter?
It holds its green color through cold winters better than most boxwoods. Exposed, windy sites can still cause some bronzing, so a sheltered spot and a deep watering in late fall help. Browse more Evergreen Plants.
Will deer eat it?
Deer and rabbits rarely browse boxwood, which makes it one of the most dependable evergreen shrubs for gardens with regular deer pressure. See our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens for more options.
Is it good for edging?
Yes. Its compact size, small leaves, and tolerance for regular shearing make it a classic choice for edging beds, walkways, and parterres. See our Shrubs & Bushes for more choices.
