The Growers Choice: The Best Alternatives to Boxwood

There are several reasons why you might choose not to use Box in your design—perhaps due to a bad experience, concerns about blight, or issues with box caterpillars. If you’re seeking an alternative, here are some useful suggestions, many of which are available at Johnsons.

Alternatives generally fall into two categories: those suitable for creating a parterre (low, formal hedging) and those ideal for topiary.

Alternatives for Parterre

A parterre is a low, formal hedge often found in kitchens or knot gardens. The box is traditionally favoured because of its ability to handle frequent trimming. However, there are dark green evergreen alternatives that work well, including Euonymus Greenspire, Lonicera nitida, Ilex crenata, Lavender and Taxus baccata.

Another excellent alternative is lavender, particularly varieties like Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandula ‘Hidcote’. Lavender not only forms low, structured hedges but also offers fragrant blooms and attracts pollinators, making it a beautiful and wildlife-friendly option. It thrives in well-drained soil and sunny conditions.

Alternatives for Topiary

For topiary, many evergreen varieties can be used. If you’re looking for something with small leaves and a growth habit similar to Buxus, Ilex crenata is an excellent choice. Several varieties have been specifically cultivated to grow upright and come in different shades of green. The Maxima variety is dense and ideal for conical shapes, while Convexa has curved leaves and trims well into ball forms. Other great options include Green Hedge, Dark Green, and Stokes.

If you’re looking for a plant that shapes well but doesn’t mimic Buxus exactly, there are plenty of options.

• Ilex varieties, with their dark green, slightly prickly leaves, are excellent for ball and cone shapes. Popular varieties such as Alaska, Blue Maid, and Heckenstar maintain their shape well.
• Prunus varieties like Ami (compact and easy to trim) and Sofi (small serrated leaves) also make strong ball shapes with year-round vibrant green color.
• For something entirely different, consider Pittosporum, which forms firm, rounded shapes beautifully, or Osmanthus heterophyllus, which has holly-shaped leaves that are less prickly and feature an attractive variegated green and cream pattern.

A Traditional Alternative

If none of these options appeal to you, consider the more traditional choice—Taxus (Yew). It’s highly robust, thrives in well-drained conditions, and trims exceptionally well. Taxus is a fantastic all-round alternative to Box, ideal for hedging and capable of being shaped into balls, pyramids, spirals, and more.

Looking for Inspiration?

For inspiration, visit a stately home such as Levens Hall in Kendal, where Taxus has been grown and shaped since the 1690s across ten acres of gardens.

Posted 21st Mar 11:53am