Green Velvet Boxwood vs. Winter Gem: What’s the Difference?

Because of boxwood’s adaptability and high pruning tolerance, one can use it to create any type of garden form. Whether you need a rounded shrub or an artistically-pruned bush, the boxwood is your best bet. It is one of the most widely used plants in topiaries because of this.

Two popular species and cultivars of the boxwood include the green velvet boxwood and the winter gem boxwood. Both of these box trees are hardy and very beautiful when used in landscaping. However, there are some important differences between them that can help a landscaper determine which plant is the better choice for their needs. Let’s take a look at some of the core differences between green velvet boxwood and winter gem boxwood.

Comparing Green Velvet Boxwood vs. Winter Gem

The Key Differences Between Green Velvet Boxwood and Winter Gem

The green velvet box and winter gem box have many similarities. They grow in USDA hardiness zones five through nine. They typically have a similar adult width at four feet. These trees both require partial shade or full sun, and they require moist well-drained soil. They also need to same soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. With this information in mind, there are some important differences between green velvet and winter gem boxwood.

To start, the green velvet boxwood and winter gem boxwood might share a genus, but they are very different species. They are each an individual variety of their own species as well.

The winter gem boxwood tends to be much larger than the green velvet boxwood, which is a primary distinction between these two plants. Green velvet grows to a height of four feet, while winter gem can occasionally reach a height of six feet when grown in ideal conditions. Additionally, winter gem has brighter green leaves compared to green velvet’s slightly paler leaves. The green velvet boxwood’s leaves are also a little bit narrower than winter gem boxwood’s leaves. While winter gem leaf tips are rounded, green velvet leaf tips are somewhat pointed.

Green Velvet Boxwood and Winter Gem Shapes and Appearance

The shapes of these plants vary noticeably as well. At maturity, green velvet typically reaches a height of three feet and a width of the same. The branches’ structure is more horizontal. The width and height can both reach four feet with proper sunshine, water, and fertilizer. Winter gem can grow to a height of up to six feet, easily surpassing four feet. However, the width rarely goes over four feet. Although the branches are not quite vertical, they do grow progressively upward. Winter gem thus has a relatively wide-columnar or elongated form. The shape of green velvet is more pyramidal or spherical.

The growth rates of these two plants vary. Green velvet grows one to two inches per year compared to winter gem’s two to three inches. Green velvet makes a superb specimen plant or low hedge because of its rounded shape and slow growth rate. Winter gem, on the other hand, grows more quickly and is a little wider, so it is better suited to a higher hedge. The fewer plants you need for the hedge, the wider the plants, which makes winter gem an excellent choice.

Green Velvet Boxwood vs. Winter Gem: Classification

Both the green velvet boxwood and winter gem boxwood share a genus, Buxus. This genus includes 110 different species of boxwood trees, making both of these trees closely related to the Georgian boxwood, the European boxwood, and the smooth boxwood.

The green velvet boxwood is classified as Buxus sinica insularis ‘Green Velvet’. The Buxus sinica species is known as the Korean boxwood.

The winter gem boxwood is classified as Buxus microphylla japonica ‘Winter Gem’. The Buxus microphylla species is also known as the littleleaf boxwood. The B. japonica variety is also known as the Japanese boxwood variety.

Green Velvet Boxwood vs. Winter Gem: Description

Green velvet boxwood is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the boxwood family that is easily shaped into a formal hedge or topiary. In this hybrid, the English boxwood’s velvety deep green foliage is combined with the hardiness and compactness of the Korean boxwood.

The winter gem boxwood is an evergreen shrub with tiny, glossy leaves that emerge bright lime green and become scarlet and orange in the winter light. It grows slowly and can reach a height of around six feet. In the spring, it bears tiny, light yellow blooms. It is a cultivar of the boxwood species native to Japan.

Green Velvet Boxwood vs. Winter Gem: Uses

Boxwood are almost exclusively used for landscaping, though their wood is sometimes used as timber for small projects. The green velvet boxwood is particularly helpful as an accent or border tree on lawns or along walkways. The winter gem boxwood is frequently utilized in landscaping as eye-catching accent plants. Both boxwood are deer-resistant.

Green Velvet Boxwood vs. Winter Gem: Origin

One of the first known garden plants, boxwood are native to Europe and Asia and date back to 4,000 B.C. The hybrid green velvet boxwood type was created at Sheridan Nurseries in Canada in 1973. The winter gem boxwood is a cultivar of the littleleaf boxwood, which is indigenous to Japan, Korea, and Taiwan on Asia’s east coast.

Green Velvet Boxwood vs. Winter Gem: How to Grow

The green velvet boxwood grows best as a rounded shrub or small tree in soil that is a mix of sand and clay and receives both sun and shade. The foliage of plants grown in total shadow will be reduced. On the other side, foliage that is grown in full light runs the risk of scorching, winter browning, and mite infestation. The sun is at its best in the morning. Pruning is acceptable for green velvet, but it should only be done after the last frost. After pruning, emerging branches will be more vulnerable to harm from a late frost.

A layer of mulch should be placed over its short roots to protect them. Avoid disturbing the plant’s shallow roots with excessive cultivation. Place where there are few winds and full winter sun to protect from these situations. Although green velvet has considerable resistance to bronzing, winter winds can lead to dehydration and bronzing. Snow accumulation should be cleared to protect the branches. Plants should be thinned annually to improve airflow.

With winter gem boxwood, low privacy or boundary hedges can be created by planting the shrubs 12 to 24 inches apart. Winter gem boxwood thrives in a variety of lighting situations, including both full sun and moderate shade. In any soil that is not consistently damp, the bush will thrive. It prefers medium moisture in sandy or loamy, well-drained soil with a neutral pH. One inch of water must be provided to a newly planted winter gem boxwood every week until it becomes established. The amount of additional watering required for established boxwood is little.

Green Velvet Boxwood vs. Winter Gem: Special Features

Green velvet boxwood have a lovely deep green color with pointed leaves, making them greatly useful as low and dense hedges along walkways. The color of the green velvet leaves stays throughout winter.

The winter gem boxwood has a lovely rounded shape and can be pruned to resemble basically anything. One can get very creative when pruning a winter gem! The colors of this variety are unique in that they start as a bright, light green hue and eventually turn into a deep and glossy emerald hue.

If you plan on creating a dense hedge, we would recommend opting for the winter gem boxwood, as it is a bit wider than the green velvet boxwood. However, if you want a small plant with a slower growth rate that is easier to manage, go for the green velvet boxwood. When it comes down to it, the main differences between these two plants that actually matter for landscapers come down to color and leaf shape. Whichever boxwood you choose will surely look excellent in your landscaping project.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Akchamczuk