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japanese hedge plants

Japanese hedge plants are a popular choice for New Zealand gardeners seeking beautiful, low-maintenance solutions for privacy, structure, and year-round greenery. With their refined foliage, adaptable growth habits, and excellent resilience, Japanese hedge plants lend an elegant, evergreen touch to any landscape—whether you're bordering driveways, creating garden rooms, or screening out wind and noise. This guide helps you discover the top Japanese hedge plants available, how to choose the best varieties for your garden, and tips for planting and care.

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.

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)

5 from 1 customers

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.

From $44.95

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
ligustrum-rotundifolium-4
Ligustrum 'Rotundifolium'

Ligustrum 'Rotundifolium' (Japanese Privet) is a hardy evergreen shrub admired for its rounded glossy green leaves and dense compact growth habit...

From$24.77
A magnificant Photinia 'Super Hedge' hedge.
Photinia 'Super Hedge'

Photinia 'Super Hedge' features bright and colourful foliage with bright red new growth. This foliage ages to become mid-dark green, resulting in a...

From$24.95
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
Lonicera 'Honey Hedge Lime' plants with lush, green foliage.
Lonicera 'Honey Hedge Lime'

Lonicera 'Honey Hedge Lime' is a bright and eye catching honeysuckle valued for its vivid lime foliage and compact, tidy habit. This hardy shrub...

From$16.95
Acer 'Asahi Zuru' green and white variegated foliage.
Acer 'Asahi Zuru'

Acer 'Asahi Zuru' is a stunning Japanese Maple known for its delicate, variegated leaves that blend pink, white, and green tones. In autumn, the...

From$24.95
Acer palmatum 'Crimson Princess' tree with fine green foliage tinged with purple.
Acer 'Crimson Princess'

Acer palmatum 'Crimson Princess' is a stunning Japanese maple known for its deeply cut, cascading burgundy foliage that intensifies through the...

From$299.95
An elegant Miscanthus sinensis grass with cream-coloured flower plumes and lush green foliage.
Miscanthus sinensis

Miscanthus sinensis is an ornamental grass that grows as a clump of narrow, arching, green leaves. The colouring gives a light silver-green effect to...

From$19.95
Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen' specimen tree with purple-red cascading foliage.
Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen'

Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen' is a highly admired weeping Japanese maple known for its finely dissected burgundy foliage that retains rich colour...

From$299.95
Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' specimen tree with colourful dark red foliage.
Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'

Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' (Bloodgood Japanese Maple) is one of the most reliable and popular Japanese maples, valued for its deep red foliage and...

From$299.95
acer-fjellheim-4
Acer palmatum 'Fjellheim'

Acer palmatum 'Fjellheim' is a compact Japanese Maple prized for its dense upright habit, fresh green foliage, and brilliant coral red stems that...

From$399.95
Acer palmatum dissectum 'Stella Rossa' tree with fine, dark purple foliage.
Acer 'Stella Rossa'

Acer 'Stella Rossa' is a striking Japanese Maple valued for its finely dissected deep red foliage and elegant cascading growth habit. The rich...

From$399.95
acer-seiryu-
Acer palmatum 'Seiryu'

Acer palmatum 'Seiryu' is a unique Japanese Maple admired for its finely dissected foliage and upright growth habit. Unlike many laceleaf maples...

From$299.95
fatsia-japonica-
Fatsia japonica

Fatsia japonica (Japanese Aralia) is a bold evergreen shrub known for its large, glossy leaves that bring a tropical feel to New Zealand gardens. It...

From$35.81
pachysandra-terminalis-5
Pachysandra terminalis

Pachysandra terminalis, commonly known as Japanese Spurge, is a hardy evergreen groundcover valued for its glossy dark green foliage and dense...

From$23.39
Juniperus procumbens 'Nana' (prostrate Juniper) growing as a tidy ground cover.
Juniperus procumbens Nana (Japanese Dwarf Juniper)

Juniperus procumbens 'Nana', commonly known as the Prostrate Juniper, is a ground-hugging conifer that forms a carpet of blue-green, needle-like...

From$34.43
Stromanthe triostar plant.
Stromanthe Triostar (Stromanthe Plant)

Stromanthe Triostar is a popular indoor plant owing to its lush and colourful foliage. It features elegant, dark green, pink, and cream-coloured...

From$33.05
clianthus-puniceus-
Clianthus puniceus (Parrot Beak Plant)

Clianthus puniceus (Kakabeak) is a spectacular New Zealand native shrub renowned for its striking clusters of brilliant red, beak shaped flowers that...

From$44.09
cryptomeria-japonica-2
Cryptomeria japonica

Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese Cedar) is a majestic evergreen conifer valued for its tall upright form and soft rich green foliage. It brings...

From$270.40
strelitzia-nicolai-
Strelitzia nicolai (White Bird Of Paradise Plant)

Strelitzia nicolai (Giant White Bird Of Paradise) is a bold, architectural plant known for its large banana like leaves and striking white and blue...

From$44.09
iris-rose-queen-
Iris Rose Queen (Japanese Water Iris)

“Rose Queen” is a variety of Japanese Water Iris that produces spectacular flowers. The showy, two-tone pink blooms are borne atop sturdy stems in...

From$27.53
White flowers on a Cistus 'Snowmound' plant with green foliage.
Cistus 'Snowmound' (White Rock Rose Plant)

Cistus ‘Snowmound’ is a compact evergreen shrub that produces a breathtaking display of pure white flowers with golden-yellow centres from late...

From$24.77
A strong and studry planting spade.
Ace1 Planting Spade

The Ace 1 planting spade is a must for any gardener. This spade is designed so it can penetrate the ground easily without jarring the wrists in the...

From$225.86
Moss pole for plants.
Moss Pole For Plants (Moss Pole For Plants)

These moss poles for plants are made from Coir Fibre (i.e., the husks of coconuts). They are an eco-friendly option to help plants grow healthier and...

From$6.90
70-windbreak-2
Shadecloth - 70% Shade (Shade Cloth For Plants)

This shade cloth for plants, which is also used as plant windbreaks, reduces light levels and windspeeds by 70%. Therefore, 30% of the wind or light...

From$499.80
Disphyma australe pink flowers and fleshy, green leaves.
Disphyma australe (NZ Ice Plant)

Disphyma australe, commonly known as NZ Ice Plant, is a hardy and attractive groundcover valued for its fleshy, bright green foliage and striking...

From$19.50
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
plant-pots-
2.5 Litre Plant Pots

2.5 Litre Plant Pots are a practical option for growing shrubs, perennials, grasses, herbs, and other developing plants. They provide ample root...

From$37.44
3-litre-plant-pots-
3.5 Litre Plant Pots

3.5 Litre Plant Pots are a versatile choice for growing shrubs, perennials, grasses, herbs, and other established plants. They provide generous root...

From$48.96
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
Buxus microphylla 'Japonica' (Japanese Box)

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Acer, Buxus, and Ilex, or related Categories - Grasses, Evergreen Shrubs, and Maple Tree.

Search japanese hedge plants

Why Choose Japanese Hedge Plants?

Japanese hedge plants are beloved for their dense growth, clipped appearance, and ability to thrive in a broad range of climates. These plants offer striking visual appeal with glossy leaves, compact forms, and intriguing textures—from the tightly clipped mounds of Japanese holly to the lush, variegated interest of Japanese laurel. They’re generally easy to prune, pest-resistant, and adaptable to different soils, making them ideal for New Zealand gardens.

Top Japanese Hedge Plant Varieties

Explore our most sought-after Japanese hedge plants for creating borders, privacy screens, or stylish feature hedging:

Design and Planting Tips

When planning a hedge with Japanese hedge plants, consider both the site conditions and your maintenance preferences. Most Japanese hedge plants perform best in well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Allow adequate spacing for each plant to grow—tight planting creates immediate privacy, while wider gaps encourage healthy root development.

To establish a tidy, long-lasting hedge, trim regularly during the growing season, apply mulch to retain moisture, and feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring.

Order Your Japanese Hedge Plants Online

Transform your landscape with the timeless style and practicality of Japanese hedge plants. Whether you favour the formal look of Ligustrum Rotundifolium (Ligustrum japonicum), the colourful accent of Aucuba Picturata (Japanese Laurel Plant), or the clipped beauty of Ilex crenata (Japanese Holly), you’ll find the perfect plant for every position. Browse our full range and enjoy expert support and delivery across New Zealand.

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.
Austrocylindropuntia vestita (Furry Cactus) and Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Veitchii' may be the stars of the show, but unsung heroes like Clematis paniculata, Mint Plant, and Leptospermum 'Burgundy Queen' deserve a moment in the sun.
–The Plant Company

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