Japanese Box and Buxus

How to choose a box hedge plant

Climate decides most of it. Japanese box grows fastest, reaches about 1.5m if left alone and keeps its glossy green through heat and humidity, so it is the usual pick from Brisbane to Sydney and Perth. Korean box stays nearer 1.2m with smaller leaves that bronze a little in hard winters. English box, Buxus sempervirens, is darker and slower, and is at its best in Melbourne, Canberra, the Adelaide Hills and Tasmania, where it can be held at any height up to 3m over many years. Harland boxwood has longer leaves and a naturally upright habit that suits an informal clipped look.

Where box works

Box is made for edges. Use it for hedges from 30cm to 1m, to frame a path or a garden bed, for parterres, and for balls and cones in the ground or in pots by a front door. It grows in full sun or part shade and wants soil that drains: wet feet are the one thing it will not forgive. For a boundary screen above head height, look through our hedging and screening plants instead. For more plants that take a tight clip, see topiary and shaping plants.

Planting and spacing

For a low hedge under 50cm, set small plants 20cm to 30cm apart, which is four or five to the metre. For a hedge near 1m, space them 30cm to 40cm apart. Dig compost through the whole trench rather than single holes so the roots run evenly, plant level with the soil, mulch, and water twice a week through the first summer.

Care basics

Start trimming in the first year, even if it feels early: light, frequent clips build the dense base that a box hedge is known for. Two or three trims through the warm months keep the line sharp. Shape the sides slightly narrower at the top so light reaches the bottom. Feed in spring and again in late summer with a slow release fertiliser. Foliage that turns orange in winter is usually cold or hungry and greens up after a spring feed. Our English box care guide goes further.

Common questions

Which box is best for a hedge in a warm climate?

Japanese box. It handles heat and humidity better than English box and grows faster, so the hedge closes sooner.

How far apart do I plant box for a hedge?

Plant 20cm to 30cm apart for a low border and 30cm to 40cm apart for a hedge around 1m tall.

How fast does box grow?

Japanese box puts on roughly 20cm a year with water and feeding. English box grows at about half that pace, which is why it holds a clipped shape for longer.

Can box be grown in pots?

Yes. Box is one of the best plants for clipped pots. Use a quality potting mix, water regularly in summer and feed each spring.