Wintergreen Boxwood - Low Maintenance Evergreen Hedge

Create the perfect formal hedge or foundation planting with year-round elegance. The Wintergreen Boxwood is a dense, compact evergreen shrub prized for its refined appearance and exceptional cold hardiness. This traditional landscape staple has become the go-to choice for homeowners and landscapers seeking classic beauty with minimal upkeep. With its lustrous dark green foliage and naturally compact growth habit, the Wintergreen Boxwood transforms ordinary garden beds into sophisticated outdoor spaces. The small, rounded leaves maintain their rich emerald color through even the harshest winters, creating a polished, timeless look while requiring far less maintenance than most ornamental shrubs. Unlike common boxwoods that can suffer winter damage, these hardy evergreens provide reliable color and structure that actually improves with proper care over time.

Why You'll Love the Wintergreen Boxwood

Classic Formal Beauty: The naturally dense, rounded form reaches 2–4 feet tall and wide at maturity, making this the perfect choice for low hedges, garden borders, and foundation plantings that frame your home with timeless elegance.

Superior Cold Hardiness: Space plants 18–24 inches apart for hedges or 2–3 feet apart for individual specimens, and they quickly establish into a continuous green barrier. These compact evergreens have earned their reputation as one of the most winter-hardy boxwood varieties available, thriving where other cultivars fail.

Exceptional Winter Color: Resistant to the bronzing and browning that plague many boxwoods in cold weather. Once established, the Wintergreen Boxwood maintains its deep green color throughout winter, even in exposed locations with harsh wind and freezing temperatures.

Effortless Maintenance: A low-maintenance landscaping choice due to its slow to moderate growth rate, natural disease resistance, and minimal pruning requirements - perfect for busy homeowners who want beautiful results without constant upkeep.

Wintergreen Boxwood Details

• Botanical Name: Buxus 'Wintergreen' (Buxus microphylla var. koreana × B. sempervirens)
• Type: Broadleaf evergreen shrub
• Mature Size: 2–4 ft tall × 2–4 ft wide
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate — 3–6 inches per year
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained; adaptable to loam, clay, or amended soil
• Water: Moderate; consistent moisture during establishment
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Growing Conditions

Soil Adaptability: Wintergreen Boxwood tolerates a wide range of soil types from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (pH 6.5–7.5). However, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter produces the most vigorous growth, and heavy clay should be amended to prevent root rot.

Light Requirements: Performs best in full sun to partial shade (4–6 hours of direct sunlight daily). For optimal winter color retention and dense growth, plant in locations with morning sun and afternoon shade in hot climates, or full sun in northern regions.

Hardiness: Thrives in USDA zones 4–9, making it suitable for nearly all temperate climates from northern New England through the Mid-Atlantic and into the upper South, withstanding temperatures as low as -30°F.

Care Instructions

Watering: Water deeply once or twice weekly during the first growing season to establish a robust root system. Once established, water during extended dry periods, providing approximately 1 inch of water per week. Apply 2–3 inches of mulch around the base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges, or lightly shape after the spring flush. Wintergreen Boxwood responds beautifully to formal shearing for hedges or can be left natural for a softer, mounded appearance.

Fertilizing: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for evergreens in early spring (such as 10-10-10 or organic alternatives). A second light feeding in early summer supports continued growth. Avoid late-season fertilization, which can promote tender growth vulnerable to winter damage.

Landscaping Uses

Versatile Applications: Wintergreen Boxwood's versatility makes it suitable for:

• Formal Hedges & Borders: Create elegant low hedges (18–36 inches tall) that define garden rooms, edge pathways, or frame flower beds with classic structure
• Foundation Plantings: Anchor your home's architecture with symmetrical foundation groupings that remain attractive year-round
• Container Gardens: Excellent for patio containers or flanking entryways with formal topiaries
• Parterres & Knot Gardens: The traditional choice for intricate formal garden designs that showcase geometric patterns
• Mass Plantings: Use as a low-maintenance groundcover alternative on slopes or in difficult areas

Year-Round Privacy & Structure: Unlike deciduous shrubs that lose their leaves in fall, the Wintergreen Boxwood provides continuous screening and visual interest through all four seasons. Its compact size makes it ideal for smaller properties where taller privacy hedges would be overwhelming, while still creating defined spaces and adding architectural depth to your landscape design.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far apart should I plant Wintergreen Boxwood for a hedge?
For a dense formal hedge, space plants 18–24 inches apart (center to center). For a more natural, informal border or individual accent shrubs, space them 2.5–3 feet apart. Closer spacing creates a fuller hedge more quickly but may require more plants and earlier pruning to maintain air circulation.

How fast does Wintergreen Boxwood grow, and when will my hedge fill in?
Wintergreen Boxwood grows 3–6 inches per year once established. With proper care and spacing of 18–24 inches, you can expect plants to touch and form a continuous hedge within 2–3 years. Growth accelerates with consistent watering, annual fertilization, and adequate sunlight.

Is Wintergreen Boxwood resistant to boxwood blight and winter damage?
Wintergreen Boxwood shows good resistance to winter bronzing and maintains its color better than many common boxwood varieties in cold climates. While no boxwood is completely immune to boxwood blight, proper spacing for air circulation, avoiding overhead watering, and planting in well-drained soil significantly reduce disease risk. The hybrid vigor of this cultivar provides better overall pest and disease resistance compared to English boxwood.

Does Wintergreen Boxwood need special winter protection?
In zones 4–5, applying an anti-desiccant spray in late fall and providing burlap wind screens for exposed plantings helps prevent winter burn. Ensure plants are well-watered going into winter, as winter damage often results from dehydration rather than cold temperatures. In zones 6–9, winter protection is typically unnecessary.