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growing buxus in pots

Growing buxus in pots is an elegant way to add structure, year-round greenery, and a touch of formal style to your garden, courtyard, or patio. Whether you have a compact outdoor space or wish to create a grand entranceway, buxus adapts beautifully to containers, thrives with a little care, and offers striking evergreen foliage. This versatile shrub can be shaped into neat balls, low hedges, or topiary features, making it a favourite with New Zealand gardeners seeking both impact and flexibility.

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 $99.95

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 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 provides structure, formality, and year-round greenery to NZ gardens. It’s perfect for low hedges, borders, and topiary.

From $16.95

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Shrubs
Height: 80 cm
Spread: 70 cm
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy
Garden uses: Borders, Hedging, Paths & Steps, Topiary
Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Modern, Rock
A Buxus microphylla 'Japonica' hedge with fresh-green foliage.
Buxus microphylla 'Japonica' (Japanese Box)

Buxus microphylla Japonica, commonly known as Japanese box hedge, grows about twice as fast as English box (Buxus sempervirens). The foliage is also...

From$99.95
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...

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...

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$99.95
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$16.95
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 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
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3.5 Litre Thermoformed Plant Pots

These lightweight pots are a cost-effective means for growing on plants. They feature a strong and broad rim, have been UV stabilised for NZ...

From$48.96
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2.5 Litre Thermoformed Plant Pots

These lightweight pots are a cost-effective means for growing on plants. They feature a strong and broad rim, have been UV stabilised for NZ...

From$37.44
10-litre-plant-pots-
10 Litre Thermoformed Plant Pots

These lightweight pots are a cost effective means for growing on plants. They feature a strong and broad rim, have been UV stabilised for NZ...

From$5.76
15-litre-plant-pots-
1.5 Litre Thermoformed Plant Pots

These lightweight pots are a cost effective means for growing on plants. They feature a strong and broad rim, have been UV stabilised for NZ...

From$27.36
half-litre-plant-pots-
0.51 Litre Thermoformed Plant Pots

These lightweight pots are a cost-effective means for growing on plants. They feature a strong and broad rim, have been UV stabilised for NZ...

From$23.04
5-litre-plant-pots-
5 Litre Thermoformed Plant Pots

These lightweight pots are a cost-effective means for growing on plants. They feature a strong and broad rim, have been UV stabilised for NZ...

From$79.20
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PB5 Planter Bags (Planter Bags)

These PB5 planter bags are 80 microns thick and each bag holds 2.8 litres of potting mix. They are durable and won’t rip which makes them great for...

From$37.01
35-litre-planter-bags-4
35L Planter Bags (Growing Bags)

These 35L planter bags have two handles and hold 35 litres of growing media. They are durable and won’t rip which makes them great for handling and...

From$8.93
pb-8-planter-bags-1
PB8 Planter Bags (Potting Bags For Plants)

These PB8 planter bags are 125 microns thick and hold 4.5 litres of potting mix. They are durable and won’t rip which makes them great for handling...

From$51.69
pb-12-planter-bags-
PB12 Planter Bags (Grow Bags For Plants)

These PB12 planter bags are 125 microns thick and hold 6.75 litres of potting mix. They are durable and won’t rip which makes them great for...

From$57.76
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PB6.5 Planter Bags (Grow Bags On Line)

These PB6.5 planter bags are 100 microns thick and hold 3.6 litres of potting mix. They are durable and won’t rip which makes them great for...

From$44.86
pb-3-planter-bags-1
PB3 Planter Bags (Grow Bags Online)

These PB3 planter bags are 80 microns thick and hold 1.8 litres of potting mix. They are durable and won’t rip which makes them great for handling...

From$29.08
potting-media-
Nursery Grade Growing Media

The Plant Company growing media is top of the line and used by the best commercial nurseries. This blend has been developed over many years to...

From$29.75
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PB28 Planter Bags (Growing Bag)

These PB28 planter bags are 125 microns thick and each bag holds 12 litres of potting mix. They are durable and won’t rip which makes them great for...

From$130.50
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PB18 Planter Bags (Grow Plant Bags)

These PB18 planter bags are 125 microns thick and each bag holds 10 litres of potting mix. They are durable and won’t rip which makes them great for...

From$77.47
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PB40 Planter Bags (Growbag)

These PB40 planter bags are 125 microns thick and each bag holds 18 litres of potting mix. They are durable and won’t rip which makes them great for...

From$121.64
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PB60 Planter Bags (Garden Grow Bags)

These PB60 planter bags are 150 microns thick and each bag holds 36 litres of potting mix. They are durable and won’t rip which makes them great for...

From$169.50
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PB95 Planter Bags (Growing Bags Near Me)

These PB95 planter bags are 240 microns thick and each bag holds 50 litres of potting mix. They are durable and won’t rip which makes them great for...

From$230.50
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 'Supergreen' lush green foliage.
Buxus 'Supergreen'

Buxus 'Supergreen' grows with an upright shape and features rounded, light green leaves that darken with age. This Boxwood typically grows to 1 m...

OUT OF STOCK
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 sempervirens 'Silver Beauty' (Silver Boxwood)

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

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Choosing the Best Buxus for Pots

Not all buxus varieties are the same, and some are particularly well-suited to life in containers. Compact growers with dense foliage are ideal for pots, thriving in the confined space while retaining their shape. Some excellent choices include Buxus 'Buttercup' (Buxus Buttercup), which offers vibrant yellow-green foliage; Buxus 'Supergreen', known for its lush, deep green leaves; and Buxus sempervirens Elegantissima, with its attractive variegated tones. Each of these options brings unique colour and texture to your potted displays.

How to Plant Buxus in Pots

For the best results when growing buxus in pots, start by choosing a suitable container. Opt for a sturdy pot with good drainage holes to avoid waterlogged roots. Use a premium-quality potting mix blended with slow-release fertiliser for the steady nutrients required. Plant your buxus at the same depth as its nursery container. After planting, water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil just moist but never soggy.

Care Tips for Buxus in Containers

To keep your potted buxus looking its best, position the container in a spot with morning sun and dappled afternoon shade. Shelter from harsh wind and extreme heat will help prevent leaf scorch. Water regularly, especially during dry spells or hot summers, but avoid overwatering as buxus hates sodden roots. Feed with a slow-release fertiliser in spring and again in mid-summer to encourage dense, healthy foliage. If moss or algae appear on the soil, scrape it off gently and enhance drainage.

For those wanting to experiment with different buxus forms, Buxus 'Marginata' delivers a stunning cream-edged leaf, perfect for a standout statement in a designer pot. Compact, neatly rounded Buxus 'Faulkner' is a top pick for topiary balls and low-edged planters.

Pruning and Shaping Your Potted Buxus

One of the joys of growing buxus in pots is the opportunity for creative pruning. Lightly trim new growth up to three times a year (spring through early autumn) to maintain tidy shapes and encourage a dense habit. Always use sharp, clean secateurs and avoid pruning during the hottest part of summer or periods of drought stress.

Common Problems and Solutions

While buxus is generally hardy, potted plants can occasionally suffer from root rot (due to poor drainage), or yellowing leaves if underfed. Keep an eye out for native pests such as caterpillars, and treat promptly. Regularly turning your pots (a quarter turn each month) ensures even growth and all sides catching the light.

With the right variety and a little ongoing care, growing buxus in pots offers New Zealand gardeners dramatic structure, year-round interest, and a truly low-maintenance container planting solution. Explore the unique shapes and foliage colours on offer, from Buxus 'Buttercup' (Buxus Buttercup) to the reliable Buxus 'Supergreen', to find the perfect buxus to elevate your garden style in pots.

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.
We all know Austrocylindropuntia vestita (Furry Cactus) and Ficus benjamina variegata, but the real surprises come from plants like Prunus Amanogawa, Juniperus 'Skyrocket', and Cupressus 'Gracilis'.
–The Plant Company

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