Boxwood's dense, fine-textured evergreen foliage takes to shearing better than almost any other shrub, making it the backbone of formal hedges, knot gardens, and topiary the world over.
Native to Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa and the Americas, boxwood has been cultivated for centuries for its slow, dense growth habit, holding a crisp, clipped shape year-round in gardens from formal European estates to modern suburban foundations.
Boxwood wants full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil, and it's remarkably tolerant of regular shearing into hedges or formal shapes. Good air circulation and avoiding wet feet help prevent the fungal diseases boxwood is occasionally prone to.
Pruning boxwood in late spring after the first flush of new growth, rather than in fall, helps avoid exposing tender new shoots to winter damage.
