Buxus × ‘Green Gem’, commonly known as Green Gem Boxwood, is a compact evergreen shrub prized for its naturally rounded form and excellent winter color retention. This slow-growing hybrid boxwood typically reaches 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, making it ideal for smaller landscapes and low-maintenance designs. Its dense, glossy green foliage holds color well through winter, especially in colder climates. Green Gem Boxwood thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers well-drained soils, offering reliable year-round structure with minimal pruning.

Why choose Green Gem Boxwood

• Compact habit: Naturally rounded form with minimal pruning

• Strong winter color: Retains green foliage well in cold climates

• Evergreen structure: Provides year-round texture and form

Cultivating tips

• Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade

• Soil needs: Prefers well-drained soils; avoid wet or poorly drained sites

• Maintenance: Low—light pruning if needed to maintain shape

Designs for your garden

• Low hedges: Ideal for defining walkways and garden edges

• Foundation plantings: Fits neatly along buildings

• Formal gardens: Excellent for small-scale structured designs

Ecological benefits

• Year-round cover: Dense foliage provides shelter for small wildlife

• Low-input shrub: Performs best with minimal care

• Structural value: Adds permanence and order to garden layouts

Looking for native alternatives?

Ilex glabra ‘Shamrock’ – Shamrock Inkberry: A compact, native evergreen with glossy foliage that can be shaped for hedges or foundation use.
Ilex glabra ‘Compacta’ – Compact Inkberry: Dense, mounding form makes it a great boxwood substitute for borders and low hedging.
Ilex opaca – American Holly: A taller native evergreen with glossy foliage and red berries that support birds and native pollinators.