The box tree has been massively damaged by the box tree moth, an introduced pest, for years. Regardless of whether you have used the boxwood as a solitary plant, hedge perennial or bed border, there are alternatives for all possible uses.

In a nutshell

  • many alternatives for versatile boxwood
  • slow-growing varieties are suitable for edging beds
  • classic hedge plants such as tree of life or laurel cherry as a hedge replacement
  • Alternatives such as lavender or privet offer beneficial insects an important source of food
  • fast-growing shrubs such as purple willow or yew can quickly close gaps in boxwood hedges

Boxwood alternatives from E to G

True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

  • Height: 25 to 40 cm
  • Width: 20 to 40 cm
  • Annual growth: 2 to 5 cm
  • Flowers: violet, spike-shaped, June to September
  • Leaves: oblong, silvery, evergreen
  • Soil: dry, poor in nutrients, calcareous
  • Use: border for beds, solitary plant
  • popular insect plant
  • very easy to care for
  • Cutting back inflorescences encourages a second bloom in the fall
  • Multiple use as a scent and spice plant possible

Yew (Taxus baccata)

Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata Robusta'
  • Height: 200 to 1000 cm
  • Width: 70 to 800 cm
  • Annual growth: 20 to 30 cm
  • Flower: inconspicuous
  • Leaves: dark green, needle-shaped, leathery, evergreen
  • Soil: undemanding
  • Use: hedge plant, solitary plant
  • very cut compatible
  • quickly forms a dense hedge

Notice: The yew is a fast-growing replacement for box hedges that have been affected by pests. Within a short time, yew trees can close this gap.

Single Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

  • Height: 200 to 500 cm
  • Width: 100 to 300 cm
  • Annual growth: 20 to 25 cm
  • Flowers: white, umbel-like, May to June
  • Leaves: deciduous, lobed, dark green
  • Soil: undemanding, nutrient-rich and calcareous soil preferred
  • Use: hedge plant
  • intense fragrance
  • red berries as a fruit decoration
  • Flowers popular with insects and fruits popular with birds
  • Regular pruning forms a dense hedge even in winter

European holly (Ilex aquifolium 'Heckenzwerg')

  • Height: 10 to 50 cm
  • Width: 5 to 30 cm
  • Annual growth: 2 to 3 cm
  • Flowers: white, rarely flowers
  • Leaves: dark green, lanceolate, with thorns at the leaf margin, evergreen
  • Soil: normal garden soil
  • Use: bed edging
  • ideal replacement for boxwood as a border for beds
  • slightly toxic

Tip: Other varieties of European holly are also an alternative to boxwood as a hedge or solitary plant. They reach a height of up to 150 cm and have attractive red fruit decorations.

Garden cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana)

  • Height: 350 to 500 cm
  • Width: 130 to 250 cm
  • Annual growth: 10 to 20 cm
  • Flowers: inconspicuous, April
  • Leaves: light green, scale-like, evergreen
  • Soil: undemanding, does not tolerate waterlogging
  • Use: hedge plant
  • should not be planted along roads as it does not tolerate salt
  • very cut compatible
  • particularly hardy

Green cushion barberry (Berberis buxifolia 'Nana')

Source: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, Berberis microphylla 'Nana' 2022-04-28 04, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Height: 40 to 75 cm
  • Width: 50 to 80 cm
  • Annual growth: 5 to 10 cm
  • Flowers: yellow, May to June
  • Leaves: dark green, ovate, evergreen
  • Soil: undemanding
  • Use: bed edging
  • suitable as grave planting
  • easy-care
  • already grows naturally as a small round dwarf shrub

Boxwood alternatives from H to P

Hedge myrtle (Lonicera nitida)

Hedge Myrtle "May Green"
  • Height: 80 to 100 cm
  • Width: 80 to 100 cm
  • Annual growth: 15 to 25 cm
  • Flowers: creamy white, May
  • Leaves: oval, glossy, evergreen, light green
  • Soil: undemanding
  • Use: hedge plant, solitary plant
  • forms red berries
  • very good alternative for topiary
  • should be sheltered from the wind
  • suitable for partial shade

Japanese Spindle (Euonymus japonicus)

Euonymus japonicus 'Green Spire'
  • Height: 50 to 100 cm
  • Width: 20 to 50 cm
  • Annual growth: 5 to 10 cm
  • Flower: inconspicuous
  • Leaves: elliptic, glossy, dark green, evergreen
  • Soil: fresh, humic, rich in nutrients
  • Use: hedge plant, bed border, solitary plant
  • hardy
  • weak and compact growth
  • very cut compatible

Japanese holly (Ilex crenata)

Ilex crenata 'Green Luster'
  • Height: 200 to 350 cm
  • Width: 100 to 300 cm
  • Annual growth: 25 to 50 cm
  • Flowers: white, inconspicuous, May to June
  • Leaves: dark green, glossy, elliptical, evergreen
  • Soil: Undemanding, nutrient-rich and low-lime soil preferred
  • Use: hedge plant, solitary plant
  • easy-care
  • very hardy
  • tolerates pruning, substitute for boxwood as topiary
  • suitable for shady locations

Lavender heather (Leucothoe axillaris)

Leucothoe axillaris 'Curly Red'
  • Height: 30 to 45 cm
  • Width: 30 to 45 cm
  • Annual growth: 5 to 8 cm
  • Flowers: white, May to June
  • Leaves: elliptic, evergreen
  • Soil: humic, permeable, slightly acidic
  • Use: bed edging
  • attractive autumn colour

Tree of Life (Thuja occidentalis)

Thuja occidentalis 'Sunkist'
  • Height: 400 to 600 cm
  • Width: 70 to 150 cm
  • Annual growth: 10 to 30 cm
  • Flower: inconspicuous
  • Leaves: scaly, dark green, evergreen
  • Soil: undemanding
  • Use: hedge perennial
  • Alternative to hedges with boxwood
  • easy-care
  • moderately heat sensitive

Tip: Varieties with other colors, such as the golden Thuja occidentalis "Sunkist", can be a visual loosening in a hedge.

Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica)

  • Height: 200 to 400 cm
  • Width: 100 to 150 cm
  • Annual growth: 10 to 30 cm
  • Flowers: white, racemose, June
  • Leaves: Evergreen, ovate, tapering, leathery, dark green
  • Soil: normal garden soil
  • Use: hedge perennial
  • cut compatible
  • intensely scented flowers
  • Flowers popular with insects
  • Birds like to eat fruit ornaments

Purple willow (Salix purpurea)

Source: Joanna Boisse, Atlas roslin pl Wierzba purpurowa 4611 7843, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Height: 300 to 450 cm
  • Width: 250 to 450 cm
  • Annual growth: 20 to 60 cm
  • Flowers: inconspicuous, medium-sized catkins, March to April
  • Leaves: lanceolate, deciduous, green above and silvery beneath
  • Soil: undemanding, prefers damp and calcareous soils
  • Use: hedge plant, solitary plant
  • through regular pruning formation of many branches and good privacy even without leaves
  • very heat tolerant
  • Flowers in spring are an important food source for insects

Shadowbell (Pieris japonica)

  • Height: 50 to 80 cm
  • Width: 60 to 100 cm
  • Annual growth: 5 to 8 cm
  • Flowers: white, in panicles, March to April
  • Leaves: medium green, elliptical, evergreen
  • Soil: fresh, humic, permeable, slightly acidic
  • Use: bed edging, specimen plant
  • Limited frost resistance, new shoots may freeze in late frosts
  • profusely blooming
  • low nutrient requirements

Star bush (Deutzia magnifica)

  • Height: 200 to 300 cm
  • Width: 200 to 250 cm
  • Annual growth: 20 to 40 cm
  • Flowers: depending on the variety, pink or white, May to June
  • Leaves: dark green, sharply toothed, deciduous
  • Soil: humic, fresh
  • Use: hedge plant, specimen plant
  • unfilled varieties particularly popular with insects
  • cut compatible
  • very hardy

White Dogwood (Cornus alba)

Cornus alba 'Wintersun'
  • Height: 200 to 400 cm
  • Width: 200 to 400 cm
  • Annual growth: 20 to 25 cm
  • Flowers: white, May to June
  • Leaves: Red-green, lanceolate, tapering
  • Soil: humus
  • Use: hedge plant, specimen plant
  • attractive play of colors of the leaves
  • easy-care

Dwarf privet (Ligustrum vulgare "Lodense")

  • Height: 70 to 100 cm
  • Width: 70 to 100 cm
  • Annual growth: 5 to 10 cm
  • Flowers: white, in panicles, June to July
  • Leaves: evergreen, elliptic, narrow
  • Soil: undemanding
  • Use: hedge plant, also suitable to a limited extent as a border for beds
  • attractive reddish foliage in autumn
  • Flowers popular with insects

Dwarf Rhododendron (Rhododendron micranthum)

  • Height: 50 to 100 cm
  • Width: 50 to 120 cm
  • Annual growth: 5 to 10 cm
  • Flowers: pink, April to May
  • Leaves: small, leathery, tapering, shiny
  • Soil: fresh, loose, tolerant of lime
  • Use: bed border, solitary plant
  • shallow roots
  • hardy
  • cut compatible

Notice: So far, only the "Bloombux" variety is commercially available.

Dwarf sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)

Hippohae rhamnoides 'Hikul'
Source: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, Hippophae rhamnoides 'Hikul' kz01, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Height: 100 to 150 cm
  • Width: 100 to 150 cm
  • Annual growth: 5 to 25 cm
  • Flowers: green-brown, March to April
  • Leaves: silvery, green, lanceolate, evergreen
  • Soil: sandy, well drained, salt tolerant
  • Use: hedge plant, solitary plant
  • produces orange fruits only when female and male plants are present
  • Fruit ornaments popular with birds
  • also suitable for very dry locations

frequently asked Questions

Can different alternatives to boxwood be combined?

A combination of different ornamental trees is not advisable, as they often have different requirements in terms of location or care. An alternative to an optically uniform planting is the variation of varieties within a species. For example, there are variegated varieties of the European yew and of the tree of life, which can be combined within their species.

Can the boxwood be gradually replaced?

Yes, especially in a hedge there are some species such as the yew or the Portuguese laurel cherry, with which you can quickly close gaps or gradually replace damaged plants. When planting in groups, replacing individual box trees can even save remaining plants, as they are no longer as attractive to the box tree moth as individual plants.

Are there any substitutes that have similar leaves?

Yes, many substitute varieties have comparable leaves and are also evergreen. A difference between the species is often only noticeable on closer inspection. If you intend to replace plants that have been damaged as unnoticed as possible, there are alternatives with comparable foliage such as the hedge myrtle.

Category:

Garden plants