How often should I prune it?

Prune once or twice a year to maintain its shape, ideally in late spring or early summer.

Does it need full sun?

It prefers full sun to partial shade but performs best with some protection from harsh afternoon heat.

Plant guide

Littleleaf boxwood.

Buxus microphylla

Pronounced BUCK-sus my-kro-FILL-uh

Also known as Japanese Box, Littleleaf box, Japanese box, Littleleaf boxwood, Small-leaved Box

Small-leaved Box — Photo by Marco Mussita (CC BY) via iNaturalist

The littleleaf boxwood is a classic evergreen shrub that is loved for its dense, fine texture. It is a fantastic choice for formal hedges or as a structured element in your garden. You will find it is quite adaptable to various landscape styles.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Evergreen shrub
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 3 to 4 feet tall
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 5 to 9
Bloom time: Mid to late spring

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to prevent root issues. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal poor drainage or nutrient deficiencies. Regular trimming helps maintain its shape and encourages thicker growth.

Watering: Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer once in early spring.
Pruning: Lightly trim in late spring to maintain your desired shape.
Repotting: Repot only when the roots have filled the container or the plant stops growing.
Soil: Well draining, loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.5
Temperature: -23 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%

Safety

People: The plant contains steroidal alkaloids that cause severe gastrointestinal distress if eaten.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant away from small children as the foliage is toxic and can cause illness if chewed or swallowed.
Contact allergens: The leaves and stems can cause skin irritation or dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is considered a mild respiratory allergen during the spring flowering period.
Edibility: All parts of this plant are toxic if ingested and should never be consumed.

How to identify it

Small, leathery, opposite leaves
Dense, compact, evergreen growth habit
Tiny, inconspicuous yellow flowers
Slow growing, woody stems

Height: 0.6 to 1.2m
Spread: 0.6 to 1.2m
Leaves: dark green, yellow green, evergreen
Flowers: yellow, green, 0.5 to 0.8cm

Problems to watch for

Boxwood BlightCommon
Leaf MinersCommon
Leaf ScorchUncommon
Root RotUncommon
Scale InsectsUncommon
CankerRare

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, layering
When to plant: spring, early autumn

Plant in well drained soil to prevent root rot, which is the most common cause of failure in boxwood plantings.

Grows well with

Hosta — They thrive in similar light conditions and provide a nice textural contrast.
Lavender — The purple flowers look lovely against the dark green boxwood foliage.

Similar species

Common Boxwood — A larger, more traditional species often used for taller hedges.

Science

Family: Buxaceae
Genus: Buxus
Order: Buxales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Japan and Taiwan
Conservation: Not of conservation concern.

It grows naturally in rocky, well drained soils where it can withstand wind and varied light conditions.

Value to wildlife: early season nectar source
Pollinators: bees
Uses: formal hedges, topiary, container gardening, foundation planting

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

How often should I prune it?: Prune once or twice a year to maintain its shape, ideally in late spring or early summer.
Does it need full sun?: It prefers full sun to partial shade but performs best with some protection from harsh afternoon heat.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Buxus comes from the Greek word for boxwood, while microphylla refers to its small leaves.

Good to know

It is often called littleleaf boxwood because of its small, rounded foliage.
This species is much more cold hardy than the common boxwood.
It tolerates heavy pruning exceptionally well, making it a favorite for intricate topiary.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your littleleaf boxwood growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.