Japanese Box

Japanese Box 'Faulkner' (Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Faulkner') is the low hedge plant for gardeners who want clean lines without constant work. Left alone it reaches about 1.2m tall and 1m wide, though almost nobody lets it, because it clips to any height from ankle level up and holds the shape for months. The small glossy leaves sit densely enough that a trimmed edge reads as a solid line.

Why you'll love it

• It takes a clip and keeps it. Dense small foliage means a cut face stays crisp rather than opening into gaps within weeks.
• Better colour than English box. 'Faulkner' holds a deeper green through winter, where other box selections often go bronze in cold weather.
• Tough at both temperature extremes. Frost hardy and heat tolerant, so the one plant works from Melbourne through to a Brisbane courtyard.
• Slow enough to stay tidy. Two trims a year hold a formal edge, which is a fraction of the work a fast hedge demands.

Where it works best

Low hedges and border edging. Plant 30cm apart for a dense low hedge. That spacing closes the line in two seasons and keeps the base furnished instead of woody and bare.

Topiary and shaping. Balls, cones and standards all work, since the plant reshoots readily from the cut and the small leaf lets you hold a precise outline.

Pots and small gardens. A matched pair in pots at an entry is a classic use, and its modest size suits courtyards where a larger hedge would crowd the space.

Growing Japanese box in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with morning sun and afternoon shade the best compromise in hot inland gardens. It performs across cool temperate, warm temperate, Mediterranean and subtropical climates, which covers most of the country outside the wet tropics.

Soil. Well drained soil with compost worked through. Box will not tolerate soggy roots, so raise the bed on heavy clay. Mulch 50mm deep and keep it off the stems.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer, after which it is drought tolerant in all but severe dry spells. Feed a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring and again after the summer trim.

Pruning. Trim in mid spring once the first flush hardens, then again in late summer. Avoid cutting in the heat of the day, which scorches the exposed leaves. It reshoots from old wood, so a neglected hedge can be brought back hard.

What to expect when it arrives

Four sizes are grown. The 140mm pack of ten and 200mm pack of six are the value option for a run of edging, arriving as small bushy plants that close in about two seasons. The 250mm pack of three and the 300mm are already shaped and give a hedge line much sooner.

Plants travel packed upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Some inner leaf yellowing after transit is normal and grows out. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

One honest note: box is toxic to cats and dogs if the foliage is eaten, so it is not the choice for a garden where pets graze.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete buxus care guide
• How to create a hedge and keep it sharp
• Browse plants suited to topiary and shaping
• Compare the full hedging range

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Thirty centimetres apart in a single row for a dense low hedge. Wider spacing leaves gaps that take years to close, and closer spacing wastes plants without speeding anything up.

How low can I keep it?

As low as 25cm to 30cm if you trim twice a year. The 1.2m figure is what it reaches untrimmed, and very few gardeners grow it that way.

Will it burn in a hot summer?

It is heat tolerant, but a trim during a heatwave can scorch the freshly cut leaves. Trim in the cool of the morning and water well beforehand and the problem disappears.