North Star® Boxwood

Light Needs

Full Shade to Full Sun

(Can Grow In Most Sunlight Conditions)

Mature Height

2-2.5 Feet

Mature Spread

2-2.5 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 9

Timeless. Classic. Distinctive. Boxwood has few rivals when it comes to adding these traits to a garden along with all-important structure. Gardeners with less space will appreciate the smaller, slow-growing nature of North Star® as it won’t ever overwhelm your garden. The foliage remains glossy and green, even during the depths of winter. Left to its own devices, North Star® forms a dense, compact globe, making it ideal for planting in containers. But if you feel like taking up the clippers, this is a perfect boxwood for creating borders of a formal herb garden, shearing into a low hedge, or snipping into whimsical shapes.

Boxwoods tolerate just about any light conditions except deep shade. They thrive in a range of soils as long as they drain well. As an added bonus, deer leave boxwood alone and they tolerate salt spray, so you can site them along roads, driveways, and walkways where they may encounter winter salt. Truth is, you just can’t go wrong adding boxwood to a garden!

North Star Boxwood Care

Plant boxwood in moisture-retentive but well-draining soil in full sun to shade. Dig a planting hole twice as wide as the root ball but an inch or two shallower than the un-potted plant. Set the root ball an inch or two above grade, then backfill with native soil and firm gently. Water well and apply 2-3 inches of shredded bark mulch, taking care not to put mulch against the trunk of the plant. Keep well-watered the first growing season if rainfall is not adequate. You will need to water container-grown boxwoods more frequently than those in the ground. Fertilizing is generally not necessary, but if you would like to fertilize, use a slow-release granular fertilizer formulated for broadleaf evergreens.

Fertilizing is generally not necessary, but if you would like to fertilize, use a slow-release granular fertilizer formulated for broadleaf evergreens. Pruning North Star Boxwood is not necessary, however the plant tolerates heavy pruning. It is best to prune or trim in the summer. Cut off dead branches or foliage anytime throughout the year to improve the look of the plant.

North Star Boxwood Spacing

North Star® boxwood grows slowly, taking several years to reach its full size of 2-3 feet tall and wide so bear this in mind when planting. If you are planting to form a hedge or border, you will have the best outcome if you plant them 12-18 inches apart on center. In less formal plantings, you can space them further apart, 24-30 inches apart on center to form a mass. If you are planting this boxwood in a container, use one that is at least 14 inches wide.

North Star Boxwood Plant Facts