shrub

Compact Korean Boxwood

Buxus microphylla 'Compacta'

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Compact Korean Boxwood (Buxus microphylla 'Compacta') at Lurvey Garden Center

Compact Korean Boxwood

Compact Korean Boxwood

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Compact Korean Boxwood (Buxus microphylla 'Compacta') at Lurvey Garden Center

Compact Korean Boxwood foliage

Compact Korean Boxwood foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Compact Korean Boxwood (Buxus microphylla 'Compacta') at Lurvey Garden Center

Compact Korean Boxwood

Compact Korean Boxwood

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  12 inches

Spread:  12 inches

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  4

Other Names:  Littleleaf Box, Korean Boxwood

Description:

This compact boxwood is great for smaller plantings;slow growing;tends to bronze at winter; an extremely versatile shrub that's ideal for small and formal hedges or topiary, takes pruning exceptionally well

Ornamental Features

Compact Korean Boxwood is primarily valued in the garden for its ornamental globe-shaped form. It has rich green evergreen foliage. The small glossy oval leaves remain green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Compact Korean Boxwood is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and can be pruned at anytime. It is a good choice for attracting bees to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Compact Korean Boxwood is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Rock/Alpine Gardens
  • Border Edging
  • General Garden Use
  • Topiary
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Compact Korean Boxwood will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 inches. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. You may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Compact Korean Boxwood makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing the canvas against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Rock  Edging  Garden  Topiary  Container 
Applications
Plant Form  Winter Value  Attracts Wildlife 
Ornamental Features