Botanical Name: Buxus microphylla 'Compacta'
Add
Common Name: Compact Dwarf Boxwood  
Plant photo of: Buxus microphylla 'Compacta'
Previous Photo     Next Photo

Water Saving Tip:

Fix leaking sprinklers, valves, and pipes.

One broken spray sprinkler can waste 10 gallons per minute - or 100 gallons in a typical 10 minute watering cycle.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Broadleaf Evergreen, Shrub

 

Height Range

Under 1'

 

Flower Color

n/a

 

Flower Season

n/a

 

Leaf Color

Dark Green

 

Bark Color

Brown

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Half, Shade

 

Water

High

 

Growth Rate

Slow

 

Soil Type

Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Well-drained

 

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Formal, Japanese, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish

 

Accenting Features

Unusual Foliage

 

Seasonal Interest

Winter

 

Location Uses

Entry, Perennial Border, Shrub Border, Foundation, Parking Strip, Patio, Raised Planter, Walkways

 

Special Uses

Hedge, Mass Planting, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:
  • Description

  • Notes

This is a very compact boxwood, growing slowing to 1 foot tall but eventually spreading as wide as 4 feet. though it is evergreen, the dark green foliage takes on a bronze hue in the winter months. Use to edge a perennial, shrub, or foundation border, to line a walk, or as an evergreen accent in the perennial garden. Its generally uniform growth habit means little maintanance is required to keep it tidy.
Best grown in loamy, well-drained soil in part to full shade. Prefers snady-loam to clay-loam soils, acidic to slightly alkaline pH. Avoid cultivating around plants because they have shallow roots. Thin plants and remove dead/damaged branches annually as needed to improve air circulation. In our hot, dry climate, boxwood is best sited in a sheltered location that will protect it in winter from strong winds and full sun. Carefully remove snow accumulations from plants as quickly as practicable to minimize stem/branch damage. Though not a low water plant, when provided the right soil, light, and mulch, boxwood can manage on just one watering per week.