Japanese boxwood is a fine-textured, loose, and rounded evergreen shrub in the Buxaceae (boxwood) family that grows to 6.5 feet tall. Native to Japan, Buxus is the Latin name for boxwood or box tree. The common name of boxwood refers to the wood used to make carved decorative boxes. Another etymology is that boxwood describes the square stems of its young plants. This boxwood prefers moist, cool soils, so mulch heavily around the roots. Plant it in well-drained soil with slight acidity to slight alkalinity and dappled to partial shade. It can be grown in full shade but will become leggy and sparsely foliated. Full sun may cause foliage to turn a reddish color. This is a slow growing shrub and sensitive to over fertilization. New growth may be injured by frost. Once established, it is very drought tolerant. It is also deer, rabbit, and nematode resistant. Propagate by stem cutting; the plant also will self-seed in optimum growing conditions. Japanese boxwood works well as a specimen or accent in the landscape, and it is also useful in shrub borders or foundation plantings. It is commonly used as edging and in formal hedges so it works well in English or cottage gardens. Quick ID Hints : Leaves are opposite, apex rounded or notched Stems are square and winged (decurrent petiole) Midrib has white cottony pubescence below Leaves are about 1inch long and often as broad Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant can be challenging to grow. Boxwood mites and leaf miners can affect stressed plants. Blight and leaf spot can affect plants. Root rot occurs in poorly drained soil. Foliage burns in hot summer suns or harsh winter winds. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common boxwood insect pests and diseases. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Similar, less problematicDistyliumViburnum obovatum 'Raulston Hardy'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet; 6-feet-12 feet; 12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 6 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Rounded
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Obovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Small ~1", opposite, simple leaves, broadest above the middle. Typically obcordate and just as broad as long, rounded or notched apex; petiole fused to stem (decurrent) with white cottony midrib below. Foliage green, but sometimes has yellowish-green leaves, malodorous.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Green
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small, green to cream, fragrant, insignificant flowers in axillary clusters, 4-parted. Apetalous (no petals).
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Inconspicuous and not showy
Bark color
Light Brown
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Stem detail
New stems green, mature to brown, square shape.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Japan
Attracts
Bees
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Uses (ethnobotany)
The extremely hard wood was used to make boxes, hence the common name.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Patio; Walkways
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; English Garden; Pollinator Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Barrier; Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Security; Specimen
Boxwood Mite; Boxwood Psyllid; Boxwood Pest Management Calendar; Pests of Boxwood; Oystershell Scale Insect on Ornamental Plants
Problems
Contact Dermatitis; Malodorous; Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Deer; Rabbits
Particularly resistant to
Nematodes
Propagation
Seed; Stem Cutting
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Bark; Leaves
Poison symptoms
Causes low toxicity if eaten. Skin irritation minor or lasting only for a few minutes. Dogs and cats: vomiting, diarrhea; Horses: colic, diarrhea, respiratory failure, seizures