21 Best Boxwood Alternatives For Your Landscape

With centuries of use, boxwoods are exceedingly versatile in the landscape. Like the little black dress of a woman’s wardrobe, these shrubs seem to go with everything and are always appropriate. They form tidy hedges and create clean borders against taller, looser plants. Or, they stand alone as anchoring evergreens, with dense, little-leaved foliage in handsome dark, glossy green. Boxwoods are low-maintenance and take shaping well.

So, what’s not to love about these elegant shrubs? Not much, except that alternatives may benefit areas with boxwood blight. Or maybe your sun and moisture conditions aren’t a fit. Boxwoods can also be costly to plant in large numbers. And, varying hedges and evergreen specimens add interest to the display. 

Here, we’ll explore easy-care alternatives to complement existing boxwoods or alter the aesthetic. Whether planting borders or single specimens, these species fill the role of attractive evergreen. 

Box-Leaved Holly

	botanical name Ilex crenata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5-10’
	hardiness zones 5-8

Box-leaved holly, also called Japanese holly, resembles a boxwood in its foliage and form. Its small, dark green, lustrous leaves grow on dense plants with rigid stems. Compact plants have an upright, rounded habit.

The most commonly grown Japanese hollies are cultivars ranging from narrow and upright (‘Sky Pencil’) to tall and broad (‘Convexa’). ‘Helleri’ is a popular variety that reaches four feet tall and wide.

‘Soft Touch’ mounds have dense foliage and reach three feet tall. Leaves are tender, and stems aren’t spiky for a soft look and feel. ‘Golden Gem’ has bright gold and green leaves and reaches only two feet tall.

These shrubby hollies take shearing and shaping well. Once established, they’re somewhat drought-tolerant. However, they cannot withstand high heat and humidity above zone 8 and appreciate protection from drying winter winds in lower zones.

Dwarf Yaupon Holly

	botanical name Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 7-9

In warmer zones, dwarf cultivars of the U.S. native species are prime boxwood alternatives or look-alikes. They feature narrow, rounded, dark green leaves that emerge lighter. Plants are slow-growing and low-maintenance. They take light trimming and shaping to retain their balled shape.

Dwarf yaupon varieties include ‘Nana,’ which grows three to five feet tall and three to six feet wide. ‘Schillings Dwarf’ grows slightly larger and has tinges of red on new growth.

These tough hollies are salt-tolerant, adapt to various soil types, and withstand moist or dry conditions with good drainage. Their inconspicuous white flowers in spring appeal to pollinators.

Coprosma

	botanical name Coprosma repens
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-6’
	hardiness zones 8-11

Coprosma, or mirror bush, produces foliage cast in various hues. The vibrant, high-gloss leaves pack dense, compact branches. 

Coprosma thrives in warm conditions and is drought, wind, and salt-tolerant. It makes excellent container plants that overwinter indoors.

Coprosma gives the evergreen border dark green, bright gold, or plum color. Look for ‘Waxwing’ for a variegated leaf in multiple green, gold, and pink varieties. ‘Plum Hussey’ shines in deep purple.

Distylium

	botanical name Distylium spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-10’
	hardiness zones 6-9

Distylium bears attractive blue-green leaves held upright on scaffolding stems. While dense with ample foliage, the long, slightly arching stems give a graceful look. New growth emerges in copper, red, and purple, depending on the variety.

‘Cinnamon Girl’ is a low-grower ideal for the border. Plants reach two to three feet tall and spread four to six feet. New growth is purple-red on swirling branches. ‘Cinnamon Girl’ is among the more cold-tolerant cultivars, with hardiness to zone 6 (most are hardy to zone 7). For less spread, look for ‘Bayou Bliss.’

‘Vintage Jade’ is one of the best-known and most compact varieties. Growing three feet tall and four feet wide, it’s ideal as a foundation planting. ‘Linebacker’ is unique as a tall, upright selection that reaches 8-10 feet.

These architectural plants are pest-free and grow in coastal and high-heat conditions. Inconspicuous red blooms dot stems in late winter and early spring. Distylium is a versatile, no-fuss evergreen in warm climates.

Inkberry Holly

	botanical name Ilex glabra
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5-10’
	hardiness zones 4-11

Inkberry hollies are North American natives with lustrous foliage on twiggy, woody stems. They make great boxwood alternatives in the landscape. Their indigo-black fruits set in the fall and persist into winter.

‘Shamrock’ has bright green new growth among its blue-green leaves and reaches five feet tall and wide. For prolific berries, the female plants need a male counterpart for pollination. 

‘Gembox’ is a jewel with dense, fine leaves and red tips in the spring. The petite growers are two to three feet tall and wide. ‘Strongbox’ has slightly larger leaves but the same robust growth and rounded habit as ‘Gembox.’ Both retain their form without pruning. 

The minute flowers and pea-sized fruits are a valuable food source for pollinators and wildlife. The natives are hosts to butterflies and specialized bees. 

Spreading Plum Yew

	botanical name Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Prostrata’
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 2-6’
	hardiness zones 6-9

Japanese plum yew brings high texture with needled foliage on stiffly upright plants. Low-growing cultivars like ‘Prostrata’ feature attractive, loosely spreading branches. Yews grow slowly with neat forms that offer foliar contrast.

‘Duke Gardens’ is another dwarf selection with a vase shape and compact habit. It spreads and mounds densely. Bright green foliage punctuates the ends of stems. Plants thrive in hot, humid summers and are good yew options for southern climates, though they require some shade. They’ll reach two to four feet tall and wide.

Spreading plum yew needs consistent moisture to establish robust root systems. Once established, it is tolerant of periods of drought.

Camellia

	botanical name Camellia sasanqua
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-14’
	hardiness zones 7-9

Camellias are gorgeous evergreen shrubs that bloom in fall, winter, and early spring, depending on the species. They lend a lush look to the landscape year-round, and the striking winter blooms are a joy when little else is blooming.

Camellia sasanqua blooms throughout the fall and winter with bold colors contrasting glossy, evergreen leaves. Camellia japonica, another species similar to C. sasanqua, blooms in late winter/early spring with large, ruffly flowers.

Camellias grow best in the American South. Look for low-growing varieties to stand in for boxwoods. ‘Shi-Shi Gashira’ bears showy, deep pink blooms on four to five-foot frames. Plants have a bushy, spreading habit. ‘October Magic White Shi-Shi’ is three to four feet tall and is the same form. Pure white, formal double blooms exude simple elegance.

Daphne

	botanical name Daphne odora
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-6’
	hardiness zones 7-9

Flowering daphnes are deliciously-scented shrubs with showy flowers in attractive evergreen, semi-evergreen, or deciduous forms. They are a more fragrant alternative to boxwoods, adding year-round interest. Some daphne varieties bloom in winter through spring, while others flower heavily in spring and lightly repeat bloom through fall.

Daphne odora is an evergreen species with all-season interest. Even when not in flower or fruit, daphne delights with flowery perfume unparalleled in the winter garden. ‘Aureomarginata’ has lovely foliage in minty blue-green with creamy margins.

Plant daphne in moist, very well-drained soils. It can dry out between waterings and is somewhat salt tolerant. The fragrant shrub does well as a container plant, in a woodland setting, and as a foundation plant. Roots are slow to establish and don’t like to be disturbed once planted.

Loropetalum

	botanical name Loropetalum chinense
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-8’
	hardiness zones 7-9

Loropetalum, or Chinese fringe flower, has attractive rounded leaves in deep purple or green. A member of the witch hazel family, loropetalum features clusters of strappy, fringe-like blooms in magenta, red, or white in the spring.

Dwarf cultivars like ‘Purple Pixie,’ ‘Purple Diamond,’ and ‘Purple Daydream’ have purple foliage with pink blooms on low-growing, mounding habits. ‘Emerald Snow’ is a dwarf grower with green leaves and white flowers.

Dwarf False Cypress

	botanical name Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Filifera Nana’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 5-8

The draw of the false cypress is its thread-like, feathery foliage on a loose, openly pyramidal habit. While trees grow slowly to reach great heights in the wild, most are compact selections in today’s gardens. The unique texture of its mounding forms contrasts with broadleaf evergreens, adding greater interest with its glaucous, bright, or brassy colorations.

‘Filifera Nana’ reaches just 5 feet tall in ten years with a dense, compact mound of fan leaves. The foliage is blue-green with whiter undersides. ‘White Pygmy’ builds on the look with tips of white on fine threads.

‘Sungold’ is a dwarf, mounding form with gold-tipped threaded foliage. ‘Vintage Gold’ has deep orangey-gold tones for a bright, burnished look.

Plants are drought-tolerant and grow well in variable situations like rock gardens. They retain their form and seldom need pruning or shaping.

Oregon Grape

	botanical name Berberis aquifolium
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 3-6’
	hardiness zones 5-8

Oregon grape has textural evergreen leaves that are holly-like (broad and serrated) or feathery, the perfect alternative to blight-prone boxwoods. It has high winter interest with bright yellow bloom spikes followed by dark berries.

The Oregon grape holly is native to the Pacific Northwest. Leathery leaves have coppery new growth in spring. Deep green mature foliage turns burgundy in the fall. These natives slowly reach three to six feet tall. They are great native plants for gardeners in upper western regions of North America.

Pieris

	botanical name Pieris japonica
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8-10’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Pieris has unique flowers that hang gracefully from whorled, leafy stems. The flower buds develop in late summer and suspend like beads through winter. In late winter and early spring, the beads open to delicate bell blossoms that resemble lily-of-the-valley.

New growth on pieris is bronze and red, and established leaves are deep, glossy green. The narrow, pointed eaves appear in bushy rosettes along the stems.

Pieris thrives in acidic, well-drained soils suited to companion plants like azalea and camellia, which share the same requirements. Prune pieris as blooms fade to promote setting buds for the following season.

Podocarpus

	botanical name Podocarpus macrophyllus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-50’
	hardiness zones 7-9

Podocarpus, or shrubby yew, is a large conifer. It has long, soft, pointed leaves that whorl around stems. 

While the straight species is large, cultivars like ‘Maki’ are mid-sized with upright branching and narrowly pyramidal forms. ‘Pringles’ is more dwarf at just three to five feet tall.

Podocarpus is a hard-working plant with low-maintenance needs. It tolerates coastal conditions and wind exposure. Well-draining soils are essential for plant health. Prune podocarpus to control size and shape. 

Dwarf Olive Tree

	botanical name Olea europaea
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6-30’
	hardiness zones 8-10

Olive trees boast a lovely form of evergreen leaves with a graceful habit. Slender, deep green leaves have a silvery underside. Tiny white blooms cover the trees in late spring and become ripened olive fruit from October through December.

An elegant plant with a rich cultural history, the evergreen olive tree makes a lasting display. For a smaller and more shrub-like selection, look for dwarf European olive varieties like ‘Little Ollie.’

If you live in the more arid regions of California, avoid planting this shrub as it is classed as an invasive species. Thankfully there are many options on this list that are good alternatives.

Sweetbox

	botanical name Sarcococca confusa
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 6-9

Fragrant sweetbox, S. confusa, boasts shiny, dark green foliage and a compact habit. It produces small, white blooms in March and April. While not especially showy, the blossoms create a vanilla perfume that drifts through the late winter garden.

For areas with cold winters, consider the hardier species S. hookeriana. Available in dwarf varieties, this sweetbox is hardy to zone 6 and is drought-tolerant once established.

Unfortunately, if you live in an area with boxwood blight, sweetbox is not a suitable alternative. It shares the Buxaceae family and can harbor the same disease.

Small Viburnum

	botanical name Viburnum obovatum ‘Mrs. Schiller’s Delight’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-6’
	hardiness zones 6-10

Viburnum is a versatile shrub with flowers and fruits for heightened interest and wildlife value. The vigorous growers make ideal foundation and landscape specimens.

Small viburnum (Viburnum obovatum ‘Mrs. Schiller’s Delight’) is native to the Southeastern U.S. Its twiggy stems form a dense, mounding form. In spring, domed clusters of dainty white blossoms appear, followed by indigo-black fruits in the fall. The foliage is purple and green in the fall. 

‘Raulston Hardy,’ and ‘Reifler’s Dwarf’ are excellent cultivars. Once established, they tolerate various soil conditions, including wet and dry.

Abelia

	botanical name Abelia x grandiflora
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-8’
	hardiness zones 6-9

Abelia has the advantage of glossy evergreen foliage and delicate blooms that entice pollinators. Small, pointed leaves line woody stems. Dainty tubular pink or white flowers cluster on the tips of stems from summer until frost.

Three-foot tall ‘Miss Lemon’ features pretty sprays of creamy yellow foliage with green centers. A profusion of light pink flowers is long-lasting. The dwarf ‘Kaleidoscope’ brings color-shifting foliage from green and golden yellow in spring to red-orange in fall.

Abelia is disease, pest, and deer-resistant. The tough shrubs withstand heat, humidity, and dry conditions.

Gardenia

	botanical name Gardenia jasminoides
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-8’
	hardiness zones 7-11

Gardenia’s signature sweet fragrance exudes from white blossoms that pop against dark green, glossy leaves. As they age, the flowers fade to creamy white or yellow.

Best suited for gardens in the American South, gardenias grow well in containers in colder climates. Bring them indoors to overwinter, trying a spot near a bright window. Gardenias are finicky if conditions aren’t quite right, especially inside, so move the plant outdoors as temperatures warm.

Gardenias, in various sizes and flower forms, generally bloom in late spring and early summer (year-round in warm climates). They thrive in acidic, well-drained, consistently moist soils.

Dwarf Azalea

	botanical name Rhododendron spp.
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Dwarf azaleas make gorgeous specimens in woodland, foundation, and shaded border plantings. A profusion of spring blooms brings color and fragrance to the garden. Some varieties boast repeat flowering through fall. Depending on the variety, azalea blooms range from white, pink, and purple to apricot, orange, and red. Large trumpet flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. 

R. tsutsusi is a dwarf evergreen azalea that grows less than two feet tall. With year-round foliage, the selections stand out when showy flowers cover the mounding shrubs in the spring. 

‘Autumn Chiffon’ is part of the EncoreⓇ reblooming series of azalea. Plants reach three feet and bear ruffles of pale pink blossoms with darker pink speckles.

‘Gumpo’ azaleas are part of the Satsuki group, blooming later than other varieties in late spring and early summer. True gumpos are white with three-inch frilled flowers on two-foot plants.

Azaleas make the most significant impact in groupings or mass plantings. Provide rich, well-drained, evenly moist soils for best flowering and vigor.

Dwarf Hinoki Cypress

	botanical name Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Chamaecyparis ‘Nana’ has flat, fan-shaped leaves on loosely globed plants. Horizontal branches form a flat-topped, twisting ball.

‘Nana’ is extremely slow-growing. ‘Nana Gracilis’ is a shrub-version of a columnar tree form of the species. It reaches three feet in its first ten years and may grow to six feet.

These specimens prefer organically rich, moist, well-draining soils. Protect them from strong winds.

Globe Arborvitae

	botanical name Thuja occidentalis ‘Golden Globe’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 2-8

Cultivars of this Eastern U.S. native species boast tightly packed, flat sprays of foliage on very rounded forms. ‘Golden Globe’ has thick, soft yellow leaves and reaches two to four feet. Long-lived in the landscape, plants grow slowly and have a rounded, globe shape.

‘Golden Globe’ and ‘Tater Tot,’ whose names also reflect their shape, top out at just two feet. They need little, if any, pruning. These dwarfs bring lots of foliage amid small forms. ‘Anne’s Magic Ball’ is even smaller, just 10-15 inches tall and wide. Foliage is chartreuse gold for a literal pop of color.

Globe arborvitae is easy to grow. It needs well-draining soils for carefree growth and does best with regular moisture.