What Are Boxwood Shrubs?

Boxwood shrubs are shrubs within the genus, Buxus. This genus is within the family, Buxaceae. There are roughly 70 species within Buxus, and they are all shrubs or small trees. In addition, there are hundreds of cultivars to choose from. Everything within this genus is called a Boxwood.

Boxwoods in the Garden

Boxwoods are very commonly used in the garden for hedging, and also as specimen plants. One of the most interesting things about boxwoods are that they lend themselves to topiaries and can be pruned into all different and odd shapes. If you want to have a dragon in your yard, you want a boxwood.

Growth Characteristics

While most everything grows pretty fast on the Lower Mainland, boxwood shrubs are among the slower growing. They are hardy, evergreen, small-leafed, and are tolerant of both full sun and part shade, which is why they are so popular.

Versatile Shrubs

Something else to know about boxwoods is that they also do well in pots. They are a very versatile shrub. The wood of old boxwood trees is very hard and of interest to woodworkers. Some boxwoods have a mild scent, so you may want to give them a good sniff before planting them everywhere in your yard. Some species have been used medicinally since the Middle Ages.

Considerations for Planting

They are commonly grown on the Lower Mainland and found in many garden centres. Just remember that they are slow growing like yews, so for a privacy hedge, you may want to consider something a little faster growing unless you are in your forever home.

Pacific West Cedars, based in Langley, British Columbia, farms, supplies, and installs cedar hedging on the Lower Mainland. They offer two kinds of cedars plus boxwoods: Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), and Emerald Cedars (Thuja occidentalis “Smaragd”). They work with landscapers, contractors, and also directly with the public.

If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about cedars, we encourage you to call us at (778) 241-5664.