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growing buxus

Growing buxus is a timeless choice for New Zealand gardens, thanks to its versatility, evergreen foliage, and classic look. Whether you’re shaping elegant topiary, creating formal hedges, or looking for year-round structure in your outdoor space, buxus offers reliability and beauty. This hardy shrub adapts well to various environments, making it ideal for both novice and experienced gardeners searching for a plant that delivers long-lasting appeal.

Buxus sempervirens variegata (Variegated Box) shrub with lush and colourful foliage.

Buxus sempervirens 'variegata'

Buxus sempervirens 'variegata' features small, mid-green leaves with cream-white edges on new growth, which age to become a darker green. It grows to about 1 m tall and the same wide, though it is often kept smaller with trimming, which encourages new growth.

From $16.95

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Shrubs
Height: 1.00 m
Spread: 1.00 m
Tolerances: Hardy
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Hedging, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas, Topiary
Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Rock
Buxus 'Silver Beauty' plant with dark green and yellow variegated foliage.

Buxus sempervirens 'Silver Beauty' (Silver Boxwood)

5 from 1 customers

Buxus sempervirens 'Silver Beauty', commonly known as Box Hedge, features small leaves that are dark green with irregular, cream-silver margins, and held densely on short stems. Left untrimmed it will eventually grow to 1 m tall and 1.2 m wide.

From $129.95

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Shrubs
Height: 1.00 m
Spread: 1.20 m
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Hedging, Living areas, Parks, Paths & Steps, Patios, Pool areas, Specimen, Topiary
Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Modern, Rock
Buxus sempervirens perfectly manicured balls.
Buxus sempervirens (Boxwood)

Buxus sempervirens, commonly known as English Box or Box Hedge, is a classic evergreen shrub popular in New Zealand for formal hedging and topiary...

From$12.95
Buxus microphylla 'Koreana' (Korean Box) plant with lush, green foliage.
Buxus koreana (Korean Boxwood)

Buxus koreana, commonly known as Korean Box, is a cold-hardy, evergreen shrub ideal for low hedging and formal borders in New Zealand gardens. It...

From$16.95
buxus-green-gem-
Buxus 'Green Gem'

Buxus 'Green Gem' is a compact, evergreen boxwood plant that is ideal for low hedges, borders, and topiary in New Zealand gardens. It forms a dense...

From$129.95
A Buxus microphylla 'Independence' plant for sale at The Plant Company nursery.
Buxus microphylla 'Independence'

Buxus microphylla 'Independence' is a superb compact box hedge variety loved for its fine foliage and dense, tidy growth. This hardy evergreen shrub...

From$16.95
Buxus 'Graham Blandy' boxwood shrubs growing as a cluster.
Buxus 'Graham Blandy'

Buxus 'Graham Blandy' is a distinctive, upright boxwood cultivar prized in New Zealand for its narrow, columnar form and year-round evergreen...

From$249.95
A Buxus microphylla 'Freedom' plant with lush, green foliage.
Buxus microphylla 'Freedom'

Buxus microphylla 'Freedom' is a fast-growing, evergreen box hedge variety popular in NZ gardens. It forms dense, bright green foliage that responds...

From$16.95
Japanese Box (Buxus microphylla) plants with lush green foliage.
Buxus microphylla (Littleleaf Boxwood)

Buxus microphylla, commonly known as Japanese Box or Littleleaf Boxwood, is a compact evergreen shrub renowned for its dense, glossy green foliage...

From$44.95
Buxus harlandii shrub with dense, green foliage.
Buxus harlandii

Buxus harlandii grows to about 1 m tall and the same wide with charming, bright green leaves. Best results with this evergreen shrub are achieved...

From$16.95
A Lonicera 'Honey Hedge Lemon' plant in a garden.
Lonicera 'Honey Hedge Lemon'

Lonicera 'Honey Hedge Lemon' is an evergreen shrub often used instead of Buxus for hedges. It carries dense, upright branches that host small and...

From$16.95
Ilex crenata 'Helleri' shrubs in a border garden.
Ilex crenata 'Helleri'

Ilex crenata ‘Helleri’ is a compact, slow-growing evergreen shrub with small, glossy green leaves and a dense, mounding habit. Resembling boxwood in...

From$27.53
A large Ilex crenata 'Convexa' shrub with dense, green foliage.
Ilex crenata 'Convexa'

Ilex crenata 'Convexa' is a compact evergreen shrub admired for its small glossy dark green leaves and naturally dense growth habit. Often used as an...

From$27.53
ilex-aquifolium-angustifolia-male-
Ilex aquifolium 'Angustifolia'

Ilex aquifolium 'Angustifolia' is an elegant evergreen holly admired for its narrow dark green leaves and dense upright growth habit. This hardy...

From$136.04
5-litre-plant-pots-
5 Litre Plant Pots

5 Litre Plant Pots are a practical choice for growing larger shrubs, perennials, grasses, herbs, and young trees. They provide generous root space to...

From$79.20
15-litre-plant-pots-
1.5 Litre Plant Pots

1.5 Litre Plant Pots are a practical choice for growing young shrubs, perennials, grasses, herbs, and other developing plants. They provide useful...

From$27.36
pb-8-planter-bags-1
PB8 Planter Bags (Mushroom Grow Bags)

PB8 Planter Bags are a practical and economical option for growing larger trees, shrubs, fruit plants, natives, and other established nursery stock...

From$51.69
pb-40-planter-bags-
PB40 Planter Bags (Tomato Grow Bag)

PB40 Planter Bags are a durable and practical option for growing large trees, shrubs, fruit plants, natives, and advanced nursery stock. Their...

From$121.64
Clonex Rooting Hormone one litre bottle.
Rooting Hormone (Rooting Hormone)

Clonex is the preferred rooting hormone for nurseries across NZ and the world. It is the industry standard for rooting softwood, semi-hardwood, and...

From$181.05
Lucky Bamboo plants with lush, green foliage.
Dracaena sanderiana

Dracaena sanderiana, commonly known as Lucky Bamboo, is a stunning indoor plant grown for its lovely form and lush foliage. The fresh green leaves...

From$50.99
35-litre-planter-bags-4
35L Planter Bags (Grow Bags For Potatoes)

35L Planter Bags are a practical and durable option for growing trees, shrubs, fruit plants, natives, and larger nursery stock. Their flexible...

From$8.93
transformer-
Transformer - 1L

Transformer is a professional soil conditioner designed to improve how effectively water moves through soil and growing media. It helps water...

From$595.00
A Picea pungens 'Glauca' (Colorado Blue Spruce) tree.
Picea pungens Glauca

Picea pungens 'Glauca', commonly known as the Colorado Blue Spruce, is a blue coloured conifer that grows with a broad and open, pyramidal shape. The...

From$515.35
Corokia 'Sunsplash' shrub with yellow foliage in a garden.
Corokia 'Sunsplash'

Corokia 'Sunsplash' is a NZ native shrub grown for its impressive foliage. It features small leaves that are variegated yellow with a central splash...

From$17.95
ph-test-strips-
Acidity Test Strips

These pH test strips from MQuant are suited for testing any fluid such as from soil and growing media for a quick result. Simply dip the test strip...

From$67.24
An informal Escallonia 'Pink Elle' hedge growing alongside a fence.
Escallonia 'Pink Elle'

Escallonia 'Pink Elle' is a compact variety of Escallonia, prized for its attractive foliage and small, fragrant flowers. Glossy, green leaves give...

From$99.95
A Michelia 'Fairy Cream' hedge with masses of cream-white flowers and glossy, green foliage.
Michelia 'Fairy Cream'

Michelia 'Fairy Cream' grows as a small and shapely tree carrying glossy, green leaves which are attractive in their own right. Velvet buds are borne...

From$136.04
A young Thuja plicata (Western Red Cedar) tree in a forest standing four metres tall.
Thuja plicata

Thuja plicata, commonly known as the Western Red Cedar, is a conifer that grows into an attractive and large tree. It grows with a dense, conical...

From$17.95
Large Juniperus 'Kaizuka' trees as a cluster.
Juniperus chinensis Kaizuka

Juniperus 'Kaizuka', commonly known as the Hollywood Juniper tree or Torulosa Juniper, is an upright conifer with an oriental style. It bears...

From$270.40
Carex comans green plants with dense, green foliage in a garden.
Carex comans Green

Carex comans Green is a NZ native, ornamental grass featuring slender and arching, lime green foliage. It grows as a tidy clump to about 40 cm tall...

From$11.50
Buxus 'Elegatissima' dark green and cream foliage.
Buxus sempervirens 'Elegantissima'

Buxus sempervirens 'Elegantissima' grows well in fertile, free draining soil and tolerates both full sun and partial shade. In NZ, it adapts to a...

OUT OF STOCK
Buxus 'Buttercup' with dense, fresh green foliage.
Buxus 'Buttercup' (Buxus Buttercup)

Buxus 'Buttercup' features new leaves that emerge light green and are an excellent complement to the older, darker green leaves. It grows with a...

OUT OF STOCK
Buxus sempervirens 'variegata'

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You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Buxus, or related Categories - Evergreen Shrubs.

Search growing buxus

Why Choose Buxus for Your Garden

Buxus, commonly known as boxwood, shines in both traditional and contemporary landscape designs. Its compact, dense growth and lush foliage provide a perfect backdrop or focal point in any setting. Gardeners value buxus for their easy-to-prune nature, enabling crisp edges for low borders, parterres, or spheres. If you’re considering growing buxus for hedging or topiary, you’ll appreciate how well they respond to regular shaping.

Explore options like Buxus sempervirens Elegantissima for variegated foliage, or Buxus 'Buttercup' (Buxus Buttercup) for a softer tone in compact spaces.

The Basics of Growing Buxus

To succeed with growing buxus, start with the right site. Choose a location with well-drained soil and plenty of organic matter. Buxus tolerates sun to partial shade but appreciates shelter from harsh wind and hot afternoon sun. Enriching the planting hole with compost or aged manure offers young buxus a strong start.

Planting during the cooler months—with plenty of water until established—helps minimise stress. Spacing depends on variety and use: for hedges, plant closer together; for specimen forms, allow room to spread.

Popular varieties like Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' (Boxwood) suit low formal borders, while Buxus sempervirens 'Silver Beauty' (Silver Boxwood) adds subtle colour contrast.

Ongoing Care for Healthy Buxus

A big part of growing buxus successfully lies in thoughtful maintenance. Water regularly through dry spells, especially for newly planted specimens. Mulching with bark or compost conserves moisture and discourages weeds, but keep mulch away from the stems to avoid rot. Feed with a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring to promote lush growth.

Trim lightly as needed to keep your desired shape. Most buxus varieties, such as the robust Buxus 'Supergreen', thrive with two trims a year: once in late spring and again in late summer. Always use sharp, clean secateurs and remove any diseased or damaged branches.

Common Questions About Growing Buxus

Many gardeners worry about buxus pests or disease. Good air movement, correct spacing, and not overwatering greatly reduce problems like box blight. If you notice yellowing leaves or stunted growth, check soil drainage and consider a general-purpose fertiliser boost.

Whether you’re transitioning a garden border or adding structure to a modern courtyard, growing buxus is a rewarding, low-maintenance investment. Browse our collection, including options like Buxus sempervirens Elegantissima, and create the formal elegance or soft foliage contrast you’ve been dreaming of.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

Illustration of plant leaves.
The spotlight often lands on Chamaemelum nobile (Chamomile) and Arthropodium cirratum (Rengarenga Lily), but Chaenomeles 'Alarm', Griselinia lucida, and Acer 'Red Emperor' deserve a standing ovation too.
–The Plant Company

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