Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Winter Gem'

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Key characteristics

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

Shrubs

Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Winter Gem'

Winter Gem Boxwood

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.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Average

Bloom time

Mid spring, often April to May

Find this plant

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.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)