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japanese box buxus

Japanese box buxus is an evergreen shrub highly prized by New Zealand gardeners for its stylish year-round greenery, compact growth habit, and versatility in both modern and traditional landscapes. Whether you seek a formal hedge, crisp topiary, or lush garden border, Japanese box buxus delivers reliable structure and low-maintenance beauty. Its popularity stems from its ability to thrive in a range of climates, willingness to withstand regular trimming, and resistance to pests and diseases common to other buxus varieties.

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 lighter in colour being lime green and glossy. It typically grows to 1.5 m tall and the same wide and can be trimmed as necessary. Buxus microphylla Japonica can be clipped into a small hedge or used to create elaborate patterns as found in parterre gardens. It is often used for topiary, added to mixed plantings, or maintained in a container.

Buy Buxus microphylla 'Japonica' (Japanese Box)

From $99.95

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 1.50 m

Spread: 1.50 m

Tolerances: Hardy

Garden uses: Containers, Hedging, Living areas, Parks, Patios, Pool areas, Specimen, Topiary

Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Cottage, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Rock

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 and adaptability to shaping. Ideal for formal hedges, borders, and topiary, it maintains its vibrant colour year-round. With excellent cold tolerance and minimal shaping required, it's a reliable choice for formal gardens, cottage landscapes, and container planting throughout New Zealand.

Buy Buxus microphylla (Littleleaf Boxwood)

From $16.95

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 2.00 m

Spread: 2.00 m

Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy

Garden uses: Hedging, Topiary

Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Cottage, Formal, Frontyard, Modern

What is Japanese Box Buxus?

Japanese box buxus generally refers to Buxus microphylla 'Japonica', a dense, slow-growing shrub native to Japan. With its bright green, rounded leaves and tidy shape, this buxus is a superb alternative to the English box. It tolerates New Zealand's varied weather conditions, making it an excellent candidate for gardens from Auckland to Dunedin. Unlike some varieties that struggle in humid or coastal conditions, Japanese box buxus stays healthy with proper care and basic garden maintenance.

Discover the full range on our Buxus microphylla 'Japonica' (Japanese Box) product page.

Top Reasons to Choose Japanese Box Buxus

Outstanding for Hedges: Few plants match the neat, uniform line offered by a Japanese box buxus hedge. Its slow growth means less trimming and a fine-textured, vivid hedge for pathways, property divisions, or garden rooms.
Adaptable in the Garden: Japanese box buxus excels in both shade and sun, clay or loamy soils, and container plantings. This flexibility makes it the go-to choice for all sorts of landscaping projects, big or small.
Ideal for Shaping: Thanks to its compact and dense growth, Japanese box buxus is easily trained into topiary shapes or clipped into formal parterres.
Low-Maintenance Beauty: With basic feed and water, your Japanese box buxus stays lush and green throughout the year, requiring only a few trims annually to stay in perfect shape.

For more options, explore Buxus microphylla (Littleleaf Boxwood), renowned for its petite leaves and sculptural appeal, and Buxus 'John Baldwin', a robust hybrid well-suited to New Zealand’s unique garden conditions.

Planting and Caring for Japanese Box Buxus

To grow the healthiest Japanese box buxus, select a spot with good drainage and protection from harsh afternoon sun or wind. Space plants 30–40cm apart for a dense hedge, and water regularly during the first summer after planting. Mulch to maintain soil moisture and limit weeds. Light pruning in late summer or early autumn keeps your box shaped and healthy while encouraging rich new growth.

Those seeking alternative boxwood varieties might consider Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' (Boxwood), prized for its historical use in knot gardens and traditional English borders, or Buxus 'Handsworthiensis', chosen for faster growth rates and adaptability to taller hedging.