Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Green Beauty'
Green Beauty Boxwood
- Family
- Buxaceae
- Height
- 3 to 5 feet
- Width
- 3 to 5 feet
- Flower color
- Pale yellow green inconspicuous flowers
- Foliage color
- Glossy medium to dark green small oval leaves
- Bloom time
- Mid spring, often April to May
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Average evenly moist well drained soil, drought tolerant once established
- Maintenance
- Low; prune or shear in late spring or early summer to maintain shape
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 6 to 9
- Wildlife
- Bees and other early season pollinating insects
About this plant
Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Green Beauty' develops dense branching covered with small, oval leaves that remain glossy deep green throughout the year. The compact foliage creates a finely textured surface along the stems, giving the plant a refined, structured appearance in the landscape. In spring, tiny yellow-green flowers appear nestled among the leaves. The subtle blooms release a light fragrance and provide delicate seasonal interest within the evergreen canopy.
Derived from Buxus microphylla var. japonica native to Japan, this cultivated selection has become a dependable ornamental shrub. In gardens it lends year-round structure to borders, foundation plantings, and formal landscapes where the dense foliage works well for hedges and shaped plantings.
Works well in
Formal Gardens · Borders · Containers · Pathways & Walkways
Companion plants
Tickseed · Russian sage · Potentilla · Fountain grass · Basket-of-gold · Lily of the Nile
Design tip
Few shrubs create such an easy sense of order, making this a natural choice for defining an entry garden or outlining a planting bed. Keep the surrounding plants looser and more colorful so the crisp evergreen structure feels welcoming rather than overly formal.
