1 / 4

Key characteristics

Family: Buxaceae
Height: 5 to 8 feet
Width: 5 to 8 feet
Flower color: Inconspicuous pale green
Foliage color: Dark green with creamy edges
Bloom time: Spring
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Regular
Maintenance: Moderate; easily pruned and shaped
Growing zone: USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8
Wildlife: May offer shelter for small birds and insects

Shrubs

Buxus sempervirens ‘Variegata’

Variegated English Boxwood

Buxus sempervirens 'Variegata' produces small, inconspicuous yellow-green flowers in spring, nestled among the foliage and providing an early-season nectar source for bees and other pollinators. Small, oval evergreen leaves are deep green with irregular creamy white to pale yellow margins, creating a softly variegated appearance that provides year-round color. Dense branching and closely spaced foliage form a compact, finely textured framework, while new growth often emerges with brighter cream tones that accentuate the leafy pattern.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Regular

Bloom time

Spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Formal Gardens
Borders
Containers
Pathways & Walkways

Companion plants

Fatsia · Foamflower · Viola · Aucuba · Ferns · Trillium

Design tip

Cream-edged foliage brings a lighter touch to the strong structure of traditional boxwood, making it especially useful where a formal planting needs softening. Surround it with deep greens and looser textures, or repeat its variegation nearby to gently connect different areas of the garden.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)