Plant field guide
Boxwood (Winter Gem)
A dense, compact Japanese boxwood prized for maintaining bright green foliage through winter. Naturally rounded habit that responds beautifully to shearing. Popular for formal hedges and foundation plantings.
Growing requirements
- Scientific name
- Buxus microphylla 'Winter Gem'
- Sun
- partial shade
- Water
- moderate
- Height
- 24 in (61 cm) – 48 in (122 cm)
- Spread
- 24 in (61 cm) – 48 in (122 cm)
- Spacing
- Not recorded
- Hardiness zones & minimum temperature
- USDA 5–9; average annual extreme minimum from -20°F (-28.9°C). Hardiness does not predict local frost dates.
- Difficulty
- easy
Planting & seasonal timing
Northern Hemisphere planting months: not yet verified in our database.
Northern Hemisphere pruning months: June, July.
For the Southern Hemisphere, these seasonal windows shift approximately six months. Check your local frost forecast, soil temperature, and species requirements; calendar months are not a guarantee of planting safety.
Excellent for formal topiary and hedging. May need winter protection from drying winds in Zone 5. Water deeply before ground freezes. Good resistance to boxwood blight.
Pruning
Shear for formal shapes in early summer. Thin interior occasionally for air circulation.
Fertilizer
Balanced evergreen fertilizer
Early spring
Mulch
2-3 inches of organic mulch.