Buxus microphylla Koreana

Common Name:
Korean Boxwood

Description:
Buxus microphylla var. koreana, commonly known as Korean Boxwood, is a hardy and versatile evergreen shrub known for its small, glossy green leaves and dense, compact growth habit. Unlike other boxwood varieties, Korean Boxwood has enhanced cold and heat tolerance, making it particularly well-suited to Melbourne’s variable climate, including both frost-prone areas and hot, dry periods. Its naturally rounded form and slow, manageable growth make it ideal for low hedges, formal borders, topiary, and container planting. Korean Box responds well to pruning and can be shaped tightly or left to grow into a soft, informal mound. It thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers well-drained soil with regular watering, particularly during establishment and extreme heat. Its subtle, pale greenish-yellow flowers appear in spring but are not considered a main ornamental feature.

Form:
Shrub - Small
Shrub - Clumping / Grass-like / Mounding

Mature Size:
Height: 60–100 cm (can be clipped lower)
Width: 60–100 cm

Aspect:
Full Sun
Part Shade

Flowering:
Flowers in Spring
(Inconspicuous flowers)

Flower Colour:
Pale Yellow
Greenish Cream
(not ornamental)

Key Attributes:
Suitable for Pots
Low Maintenance
Frost Tolerant
Suitable for Hedging
Suitable for Topiary
Suitable for Formal Borders
Drought Tolerant (once established)
Evergreen
Slow Growing

Toxicity:
Toxic to humans and pets if ingested — may cause gastrointestinal upset

Companion Plants:
Lavandula ‘BeeZee Purple’
Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)
Westringia ‘Grey Box’
Salvia ‘Heatwave Glow’
Liriope muscari