Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Winter Gem'
Winter Gem Boxwood
- Family
- Buxaceae
- Height
- 4 to 6 feet
- Width
- 4 to 6 feet
- Flower color
- Pale yellow green inconspicuous flowers
- Foliage color
- Glossy medium green small oval leaves often developing a bronze tint in winter
- Bloom time
- Mid spring, often April to May
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Average
- Maintenance
- Low; prune or shear in late spring or early summer
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 5 to 9
- Wildlife
- Bees and other early season pollinating insects
About this plant
Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Winter Gem' forms dense branching covered with small, oval leaves that remain rich green through the growing season and often deepen to bronze tones in cooler weather. The fine-textured foliage creates a smooth, compact surface along the stems, giving the plant a neat, structured presence throughout the year. In spring, tiny yellow-green flowers appear tucked among the leaves, adding a light fragrance and subtle seasonal detail within the evergreen canopy.
Derived from Buxus microphylla var. japonica native to Japan, this cultivated selection has become widely used in ornamental landscapes. In gardens it provides dependable evergreen structure for borders, foundation plantings, and formal designs where the dense foliage works well for hedges and shaped plantings.
Works well in
Formal Gardens · Borders · Containers · Pathways & Walkways
Companion plants
Gaura · Weigela · Salvia · Baptisia · Lilies · Mexican feather grass
Design tip
A neatly clipped evergreen hedge can give the garden a sense of structure while still leaving plenty of room for personality. Soften the clean lines with flowering perennials, ornamental grasses, or looser shrubs nearby, creating an appealing balance between order and relaxed planting.
