Buxus S. ‘Variegata’ 2Gal

Latin Name: Buxus sempervirens ‘Variegata’ (also sold as ‘Elegantissima’ or ‘Aureovariegata’, which are very similar)

Common Name: Variegated Boxwood / Variegated Common Box

Zones: 6-8 (some sources list 5-9)

Height & Spread: 3-5 feet tall (up to 6 feet over time), spreading 3-6 feet wide

Descriptive Features: A dense, mounded, compact, slow-growing form of common boxwood noted for its variegated foliage, making it a stunning color accent in the garden. Small, glossy, oval leaves emerge bright green with white edges and mature to dark green with creamy yellow to white margins that hold their color through winter. In April and May, small, white-green, lightly fragrant flowers appear but are inconspicuous. Forms a dense, multi-stemmed shrub that fills out to the ground, and takes pruning exceptionally well, so it can be shaped into cones, columns, globes, or hedges. Grows best in part shade, since the variegated foliage can burn in full sun, in well-drained soil, and benefits from protection from winter sun and wind. Drought-tolerant once established, and deer- and rabbit-resistant. Prone to leaf spot, blight, and root rot in poorly drained soil, and watch for leafminers, psyllids, and mites. New growth is susceptible to winter damage. An excellent choice for accents, borders, foundation plantings, hedges, topiary, and containers in part shade to full sun.