Boxwood Shrub Alternatives

Zones 2 to 8

• If you’re interested in a needled evergreen as a boxwood alternative, check out the similarly sized American arborvitae "Golden Globe." It reaches a height and width of 2 to 4 feet and likes sun or partial shade. The Missouri Botanical Garden classifies it as a low-maintenance plant that tolerates a wide variety of soils. It displays yellow-green foliage in a rounded shape. Water "Golden Globe" deeply during hot, dry weather.

Zones 3 to 7

• The alpine currant takes on the mounded form of the boxwood, with green leaves in summer and fall. The "Green Mound" cultivar grows 2 to 3 feet tall, while the "Spreg" cultivar reaches 3 to 5 feet. This deciduous European native can tolerate dry sites and alkaline soil. The common snowberry also has a rounded form, with a mature height and width of 3 to 6 feet. It likes full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil. Its green foliage in the growing season turns hues of yellow in the fall.

Zones 4 to 8

• The "Shamrock" inkberry offers an evergreen alternative to the boxwood. It grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide in a compact, rounded form and needs full sun or partial shade. It prefers moist, acidic soil. The inkberry has dark-green leaves and inconspicuous flowers. The "Carol Mackie" daphne is a deciduous shrub that takes on a rounded form as it reaches a height of 2 to 3 feet. "Daphnes are often slow to establish and are best left undisturbed once planted,” advises Missouri Botanical Garden. The plants need partial shade, well-drained soil and a site protected from winter winds. The daphne produces pink flowers in late spring and features variegated foliage.

Zones 5 to 9

• Wintercreeper euonymus "Emerald ‘n Gold" is an evergreen that likes full sun and needs regular watering. It offers yellow-and-green foliage throughout the year and assumes a dense, mounding form. Although it blooms in the spring, the flowers are unremarkable. The shrub grows at a moderate pace.

Zones 7 to 9

• The Carissa holly is a compact, dense shrub with dark-green leaves. This evergreen grows at a moderate rate and likes full sun. It grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. The Suwanee River privet is another evergreen shrub which enjoys full sun. It grows slowly up to 4 feet tall and 3 wide. It has a compact growth habit and produces fragrant white flowers in the spring.