Boxwood

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Boxwood to a garden.

Aromatic as a fresh-cut green bouquet, Boxwood Basil fills the garden with a steady, richly perfumed presence—bright, cool, and unmistakably basil-sweet.

This bush basil forms a compact, tidy mound of tender leaves with a smooth, velvety texture and a balanced, flavorful bite that shines in fresh garnishes and fragrant sauces, while also holding its character beautifully when dried or gently warmed. Grow it for reliable, early harvests at about 45 days, and enjoy a long season of abundant leaf pickings from a plant that stays neat and productive.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Bush

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Boxwood Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	May 4th	Jul 27th	Sep 10th – Jul 15th
Zone 1b	Apr 20th	Jul 13th	Aug 27th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 13th	Jul 6th	Aug 20th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 3rd	Jun 26th	Aug 10th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 3rd	Jun 26th	Aug 10th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 7th	Jun 30th	Aug 14th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 3rd	Jun 26th	Aug 10th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 1st	Jun 24th	Aug 8th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 27th	Jun 19th	Aug 3rd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 23rd	Jun 15th	Jul 30th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 20th	Jun 12th	Jul 27th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 14th	Jun 6th	Jul 21st – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 9th	Jun 1st	Jul 16th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 27th	May 22nd	Jul 6th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 18th	May 13th	Jun 27th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 9th	May 4th	Jun 18th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 23rd	Apr 17th	Jun 1st – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 29th	Mar 23rd	May 7th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	45
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Boxwood basil gives you a tidy, velvety leaf that stays sweet and aromatic rather than going sharp, so it’s built for chiffonade that still looks and tastes like basil-scented silk. Use it fresh for clean aromatics, or warm it just enough to perfume oil—its character holds up better than funkier, more volatile basils.

Best Uses

fresh torn-leaf garnish on grilled fish or roasted chicken
blitzed green sauce (pesto-style) where the flavor stays bright instead of turning rank
gentle warm infusion in olive oil for tossing with pasta or beans
air-dry or lightly warm for use in vinaigrettes and quick rubs

Flavor Profile

cool, basil-sweet aroma velvety tender leaf texture balanced herbaceous bite without harsh bitterness pleasantly perfumed, not overly spicy finish

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil lemon zest garlic parmesan mozzarella white beans

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I deal with boxwood leafminer (or leaf spot) when leaves start looking blighted or browning?

For boxwood leafminer, watch for silvery streaks and blotchy browning in new growth; remove and destroy affected tips and avoid shearing during active growth. If leaf spot is present (black/brown spots that spread on leaves), prune out infected branches for airflow, then water at the base so foliage stays dry and treat early with a labeled fungicide for boxwood leaf spot. Repeated outbreaks often mean improving sun/air movement and spacing—dense hedges stay wetter and spread problems faster.

During the main growing phase, how often should I water boxwood in full sun?

In active growth (spring through early summer), water deeply about 1–2 times per week so the root zone gets evenly moist but not soggy. Check by feel: the top 1–2 inches of soil should dry slightly between waterings, while the soil 4–6 inches down should remain damp. In full sun heat, increase frequency to prevent drying in the upper root layer—consistent dryness stresses boxwood and makes leaf browning more likely.

How can I tell when boxwood is ready to harvest for cuttings or trimming?

Boxwood isn’t typically “harvested,” but for cuttings, harvest only new growth: look for shoots that are green and flexible at the tips, with slightly firmer, less-floppy stems near the base of that flush. The best timing is when new spring growth has matured enough to hold leaves without wilting, usually within the plant’s ~45-day growth window after flush begins. For hedging, trim when the foliage is fully opened and the outer new growth has hardened—avoid cutting into still-soft, actively expanding tips.