Imagine strolling through a well-manicured garden, pathways lined with neatly trimmed hedges exuding an air of timeless elegance. If you’re looking to add charm to your landscape, consider incorporating boxwoods into your design. There is nothing like the formal charm of the boxwood.
Boxwoods make an ideal backdrop for any colorful shrubs or flowers planted in front of them. If you’re already growing boxwoods and searching for the perfect companion plants, we’ve got you covered. Here are the best plants that work well in front of the green boxwood shrub.
Perennial Plant Choices to Plant in Front of Boxwoods
1. Sweet Alyssum
Sweet Alyssum is a beautiful perennial that looks fantastic grown beneath boxwoods. It grows low and covers sizeable areas, creating a wealth of color and contrast. With a height of 3-10 inches and blooming in spring and fall, it’s an ideal choice for cover planting and mat landscaping.
2. Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are a classic companion for boxwoods. Planting them in front or behind boxwoods creates a sophisticated look. Opt for smaller varieties, like smooth hydrangeas, to maintain balance in your landscape. Their vibrant flowers in white, pink, purple, and blue contrast beautifully with evergreen boxwoods.
3. Liriope Muscari
Liriope Muscari, with its lilac-blue flower spikes, looks stunning when planted in front of boxwoods. These plants thrive in part shade but can tolerate full sun and almost full shade in warmer climates.
4. Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
Lady’s Mantle is cherished for its captivating foliage. The exquisite, ruffled leaves create a striking contrast with the delicate leaves of boxwoods, lending a sense of tranquility and harmony to your garden.
5. Astilbe
Astilbe cultivars come in an array of spiky blooms in white, pink, red, and purple. Choose varieties that bloom at different times to create an astilbe garden that lasts throughout the summer. Heights range from 8 to 20 inches.
6. Angel Wing aka Senecio
Angel Wing is a striking foliage plant with large, silvery white leaves that pair well with the dense green boxwood. It thrives in hot, sunny spots and quickly forms a good-sized clump.
7. Periwinkle
Enhance the beauty of your boxwoods with a vibrant carpet of periwinkle. This evergreen ground cover adds a burst of color to your monochromatic landscape. Plant them in a partially shaded to full shade area and water regularly.
8. Hosta
Pair shade-loving hostas with boxwood shrubs for a harmonious garden. These plants thrive in shady areas and come in various shades of green, gold, and blue. Plant them in spring, providing 1 inch of water per week and rich, well-draining soil.
9. Japanese Forest Grass
Japanese Forest Grass is a flowy ornamental plant that looks gorgeous in front of boxwoods. With its bright green color, it adds beauty to any garden. Opt for varieties like Hakonechloa Macra Gold, which grows well in partial shade.
10. Azaleas
Dwarf azaleas are perfect for small gardens. Their stunning blooms in various colors add color and vibrancy to your garden. Choose from popular varieties like ‘Autumn Angel,’ ‘Autumn Cheer,’ ‘Autumn Fire,’ ‘Autumn Lilac,’ ‘Gumpo White,’ and ‘Rhododendron Patty Bee.’
11. Lavender
Plant English lavender in front of your boxwoods to create a serene ambiance. It complements boxwoods perfectly with its ideal size and aromatic purple flowers.
Types of Annual Flowers to Plant with Boxwoods
12. Little Princess Spirea
Enhance your garden with the charming Little Princess Spirea. This delicate beauty complements boxwoods perfectly. Snip off fading pink flowers to encourage abundant blooms.
13. Impatiens
Impatiens are bright and cheerful annuals that thrive in shady areas. They add appeal and beauty to flower beds, lighting up any dark and shady part of your yard with their colorful flowers.
14. Petunias
With hundreds of varieties on the market, petunias offer a wide range of colors and are ideal for different garden designs. Their double and single blooms add charm to any landscape.
Reasons to Plant Boxwoods in Your Garden Landscape
Boxwoods are synonymous with timeless beauty and elegance. They bring a sense of order and formality to any garden design. Their lush green leaves provide a vibrant backdrop for colorful blooms and create a visually pleasing contrast against other garden elements. Boxwoods are versatile and can be used for defined borders, pathways, or structural elements.
They require minimal maintenance, are adaptable to different growing conditions, and provide year-round interest. Boxwoods also act as a natural privacy screen, reduce noise pollution, and bring enduring beauty to any green sanctuary.
Eight Types of Boxwoods
Boxwoods come in various shapes, leaf colors, and sizes. Here are some popular varieties and their care requirements:
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Dwarf English Boxwood: Ideal for spaces with morning sun or filtered light, requiring consistent irrigation and a layer of organic mulch. Perfect for foundation beds, hedges, borders, and containers.
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Korean Boxwood: Tolerates full sun, slow-growing, and compact with small rounded leaves. Responds well to pruning.
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Buxus Microphylls ‘Winter Green’: Ideal for foundation beds with full sun exposure.
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American Boxwood: Classic choice with dark green leaves. Thrives in part shade, requiring drainage, consistent moisture, and specific fertilizer for acid-loving shrubs.
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Wintergreen Boxwood: Ideal for a formal garden, tolerating a wide range of sites and uses.
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Common Boxwood: Full-bodied and well-suited for dense, low hedges.
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Green Velvet Boxwood: A full-bodied boxwood with rich green foliage.
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Green Mountain Boxwood: Vibrant and versatile, perfect for topiary or as an accent in containers or formal gardens.
Dwarf boxwood varieties, such as North Star Boxwood, Baby Gem Boxwood, Wedding Ring Boxwood, and Green Pillow, add charm to your garden as groundcover, border plants, or hedges.
Embrace the charm and versatility of boxwoods and let them transform your garden into a masterpiece that will stand the test of time.