The Green Velvet Boxwood, otherwise known as the Buxus X ‘Green Velvet’ or Boxwood ‘Green Velvet’, Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Green Velvet’, is a rather well known shrub plant by gardening enthusiasts around the world.
Best known for its low maintenance and moderate growth, this shrub will likely liven up your house (or garden) with its green colored leaves. But, only if you learn how to take proper care of it for it to thrive.
This is why all the topics you need to know in order to achieve this will be covered in this Green Velvet Boxwood Care Guide. Ready? Let’s go!
The basic care guidelines you need to remember for your Green Velvet Boxwood are the following:
- Water: The Green Velvet Boxwood prefers constant watering each week and more during the hot season.
- Light: Keep your Buxus X ‘Green Velvet’ in an environment where it can receive partial to full sun on a daily basis.
- Soil: Make sure to keep the Green Velvet Boxwood in soil with moist but well-draining to well draining properties, so ideally, one that is made of clay, loam, chalk, and sand.
That’s it – sunlight, water and soil! The basic 3 fundamentals for all plant care, and with the Green Velvet Boxwood this is no exception. With these three elements, your leafy friend will live healthy and happy.
Scientific / Botanical Aspects
In botanical terms, the Green Velvet Boxwood belongs to the Buxaceae family, and the genus Buxus, hence its scientific (or botanical) name Buxus X ‘Green Velvet’ (BUK-sus).
As with other Buxus’s, the Green Velvet Boxwood is an evergreen plant, which means it will be present year round in your garden.
Growing Region
As a rule of thumb, we recommend to always keep in mind your plants’ native region and environment, since these are the conditions that your Green Velvet Boxwood is most accustomed to, thus where it can most favorably.
With this in mind, the Buxus X ‘Green Velvet’ will be most used to regions where the plant hardiness level falls between 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a and the ideal climate zone is between 2, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
Growth and Size
Growth
In terms of size and growth, the Green Velvet Boxwood is a relatively moderate grower, which makes things somewhat easy for any plant enthusiast.
Size
But, what size of Green Velvet Boxwood are we talking about? What can you expect in terms of height, spread and spacing? Let’s dig in…
The Buxus X ‘Green Velvet’ can grow up to 3′ – 4′ (90cm – 120cm) in 3′ – 4′ (90cm – 120cm) and 3′ – 4′ (90cm – 120cm) in 3′ – 4′ (90cm – 120cm).
These dimensions make the Green Velvet Boxwood a relatively medium shrub compared to others, so it’s best to keep this fact in mind since it will affect where you want to keep yours at home.
Also, expect it to grow in a wonderful rounded shape, which is something worthwhile to remember when making your garden landscape plans.
This is why experts recommend keeping an area of approximately 36″ – 48″ (90cm – 120cm) free so the Green Velvet Boxwood can spread to its best extent.
Water
In terms of watering, the Green Velvet Boxwood is a fairly simple plant to take care of.
This is mostly because it has a straightforward watering schedule and somewhat regular watering needs.
Specifically, most experts agree that the Buxus X ‘Green Velvet’ prefers constant watering each week and more during the hot season.
Which is why it is considered a plant with relatively average needs in terms of water.
Watering
As a rule of thumb, you should remember to keep your Green Velvet Boxwood in soil with moist but well-draining to well draining characteristics, as these will guarantee the right conditions for your plant to grow and thrive.
However, in our experience, the best solution to knowing the right amount of water for your Green Velvet Boxwood is with the ‘thumb’ technique. Basically, you insert your finger into the soil, and based if you feel the soil moist or dry, you determine if it needs any water, which is the most appropriate way to go about watering your leafy friend.
Soil Mix
The Green Velvet Boxwood’s ideal soil potting mix is made out of clay, loam, chalk, and sand.
In addition to this, expert gardeners recommend having preferably alkaline, acid or neutral soil.
Light and Exposure
In terms of light & exposure, the Green Velvet Boxwood requires partial to full sun in order for it to thrive under the right conditions.
Most experts agree that this shrub will do well as long as you keep it in shade, or partial sun to full sun, and it will be able to grow properly.
Specifically, we recommend that you place your Buxus X ‘Green Velvet’ in full and direct sun (more than 6 hours of direct sunlight per day).
Season
Being an evergreen plant, the Green Velvet Boxwood will be present year round in your garden.
But, you can expect it to have its ‘prime-time’ during the spring (early, mid, late), the summer (early, mid, late), the fall, and during the winter.
Flowers
You can expect your Green Velvet Boxwood to flower around the spring months from April to June (spring).
The Green Velvet Boxwood produces some beautiful yellow, or green flowers around this time of year.
Foliage
The leaves from the Green Velvet Boxwood have a beautiful green color during most of the year.
In particular, they have a simple arrangement with a opposite organization in its leaves.
Attracts, Tolerance and Resistance
The Green Velvet Boxwood is well known for its tolerance to drought and animals like rabbit and deer, so don’t worry if any of these come along, your Buxus X ‘Green Velvet’ will be fine.
Garden
Does your Green Velvet Boxwood have any garden recommendations? Does it serve any gardening purposes? Here’s how you can get the most out of your new plant.
Most Buxus X ‘Green Velvet’ owners agree that this shrub will look great in most cottage, asian/zen contemporary, and mediterranean gardens of all types.
Other owners consider that they complement well most gardens of mediterranean garden, city and courtyard, formal garden, and in modern garden styles.
In particular, the Green Velvet Boxwood’s best location within your garden is in hedges and screens, beds and borders, and in patio and containers, others use it for landscaping in a hedge, border, topiary, container, mass planting, or a urban garden.
Companion Plants
Green Velvet Boxwood’s do well with some other plants beside it. One good companion plant is the Miscanthus, which will pair up nicely with your leafy friend.
Others consider that a nice Spiraea will work well too, so choose whichever you find works best for you!
Conclusion
And we’ve come to an end. Fortunately, that’s everything you need to know about your Green Velvet Boxwood to keep it safe and sound in your garden or home. Enjoy planting!
