Green Mountain Boxwood: Perfect foundation plantings

Last Updated on: 24th February 2025, 07:49 am

Buxus x green mountain boxwood plants have a lovely upright form.

When looking for beautiful boxwood shrubs, please consider the Green Mountain boxwood. It has a lovely, bright green foliage and an upright conical shape. Unlike many of its close cousins in the Buxus family (pronounced buk-sus), it is a healthy and easy-to-plant cultivar that is disease-resistant.

Tayloe’s Lawn Care Services, LLC, has planted our fair share of these, and our clients have been delighted with the results.

By the end of this post, you will know:

Background information about Green Mountain boxwood
How to use them in your landscape design
When to plant them
Plant care and maintenance tips

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About the Green Mountain Boxwood

Per NC State University, here are the basics you need to know about Buxus x Green Mountain before you invest:

Development: Sheridan Nurseries in Canada developed Buxus x Green Mountain in the 1960s.
Sunlight requirement: It will grow best in full sun-partial shade; prefers morning sun
USDA growing zones: Hardy in zones 4 to 9
Soil pH preferences: Green Mountain boxwood prefers slightly acidic or neutral soil with pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.5
Growth rate: Medium, expect about 4″ per year
Mature height and shape: 4 – 5 ft high and about 3 ft wide, with dense foliage
Other features: Green Mountain boxwood is cold-tolerant, deer-resistant, and was hybridized to resist diseases and pests

Use the Bright Green Foliage Throughout Your Landscape

Buxus x Green Mountain is a lovely species with an attractive pyramidal form. You’ll enjoy how they add color all year long as part of a:

Formal garden
Low hedge
Foundation planting
Specimen in a part shade location
The conical shape and medium growth rate makes it perfect in a large container instead of a small tree

Basic Care Tips for Boxwood Varieties

Like most evergreen shrubs, the Green Mountain boxwood doesn’t require much care. They’re relatively self-sufficient once the shallow root system is established and its new growth cycle begins.

It’s best to plant boxwoods in the late winter to early spring, but you can also put them in well-drained soil in the early fall, giving them enough time to take root before the harsh winter temperatures.

green mountain boxwood as nursery plants

Watch for Diseases and Pests

Although the Green Mountain boxwood has been bred to be a pretty healthy, pest-free boxwood, here are some diseases to watch for:

Boxwood blight – a fungal disease that causes brown leaves, leaf loss, and eventually kills the plant
Boxwood leafminer – The larvae of a small orange-yellow fly, the boxwood leafminer eats the leaves, leaving blisters on the foliage
Boxwood mite – A tiny, gray insect that feeds on the leaves and leaves white spots that appear to be scratches
Boxwood psyllid – a sap-sucking tiny insect that destroys boxwoods

To prevent these, follow best practices, including:

Prune to increase proper air circulation
Water deeply but infrequently to avoid fungus, mold, mildew, or root rot
Apply neem oil (organic) or insecticidal soap at the first sign of insect damage.

Shield from Winter Winds

While cold tolerant, Buxus x GreenMountain prefers a sheltered spot in locations with cold wintery and early spring winds, which can cause these shrubs to become overly dry and snap branches. If yours are not in a protected location, cover them with burlap or a light covering before storm events, uncovering them as soon as possible afterward.

Add Light Mulch for Moisture Retention

A light layer of mulch can help keep the Buxus x Green Mountain boxwood well-hydrated and healthy. You’ll also suppress weeds and keep the plants looking attractive.

Pruning Buxus x Green Mountain

Use sharp, clean pruning shears to prune Green Mountain boxwood in late winter; here in eastern NC, February and early March are the best times.

As you prune, remove dead or diseased branches first to allow air circulation to the inner parts of the shrub. Then, you can shape the rest of the plant to have a neat and trim appearance. It’s best to follow the natural upright conical shape as you prune.

Need Green Mountain Boxwood for Your Garden Beds?

If you found this review helpful and want to invest in deer-resistant Green Mountain boxwoods of your own, call Tayloe’s Lawn Care Services at 252.287.3376. We source plants from a local, state-certified nursery right here in eastern NC. We’ll be held to install these shrubs for you.

Author Profile

Deborah Tayloe

Deborah Tayloe is the CEO and co-founder of Tayloe's Lawn Care Services, LLC. She has a B.S.Ed and holds certificates in soil and water management and herbology from accredited programs.