How to Grow Soft Touch Boxwood
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Soft Touch Boxwood
Buxus microphylla 'Soft Touch'
shrubSoft Touch Boxwood is a dwarf evergreen shrub known for its exceptionally soft, fine-textured foliage and compact mounding habit. It offers year-round ornamental interest with delicate bright green leaves that remain vibrant even in winter, making it ideal for foundation plantings, hedges, and landscape accents.
When should you plant Soft Touch Boxwood in your zone?
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Example Soft Touch Boxwood timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Soft Touch Boxwood
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Soft Touch Boxwood
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Soft Touch Boxwood dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 5-9, with best performance in zones 5-8
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Get my Soft Touch Boxwood timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment
First 6-12 monthsYoung plant with delicate foliage, compact mounding form beginning to develop
Water regularly to keep soil consistently moist. Avoid fertilizing first year. Mulch around base but keep mulch 2-3 inches away from stem to prevent rot.
Vegetative Growth
Year 2-3Plant fills in and develops fuller shape; soft fine-textured leaves become more prominent
Begin light pruning to shape and encourage bushiness if desired. Apply balanced fertilizer in early spring. Monitor for boxwood pests and diseases.
Maturation
Year 4 onwardFully developed mounding form with dense, soft foliage; typically reaches 2-3 feet tall and wide
Prune lightly in late winter or early spring to maintain shape. Apply slow-release fertilizer annually. Continue regular watering during dry spells.
Maintenance
OngoingMature shrub providing year-round ornamental interest, including winter color retention
Prune only as needed for shape maintenance. Watch for spider mites, scale insects, and boxwood blight. Remove any dead or diseased branches promptly.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with water to dislodge; use miticide if severe. Increase humidity around plant.
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Prune affected areas; apply insecticidal soap in spring when nymphs are active.
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Prune heavily infested branches; apply horticultural oil in dormant season.
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Ensure good air circulation; avoid overhead watering; remove and destroy infected foliage; no chemical cure available.
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Prune out infested leaves; apply horticultural oil or neem oil in spring before damage occurs.
Uses
Foundation Plantings & Hedges
LandscapeSoft Touch Boxwood's compact, fine-textured form makes it ideal for foundation plantings, borders, and low hedges. Its year-round foliage provides structure and visual interest in landscape designs. [source]
Topiary & Formal Gardens
LandscapeThe soft, dense foliage and slow growth habit make this cultivar excellent for topiary training and formal garden designs. It responds well to pruning and maintains intricate shapes. [source]
Wildlife Habitat
WildlifeDense boxwood shrubs provide shelter and nesting sites for small birds and beneficial insects throughout the year. [source]
Traditional Uses
MedicinalHistorically, boxwood has been used in traditional medicine preparations, though modern medicinal applications are limited. The plant contains alkaloids with various bioactive properties. [source]
Floral Arrangements & Greenery
CraftSoft Touch Boxwood foliage is prized by floral designers for adding fine texture and structure to fresh and dried arrangements, wreaths, and holiday decorations. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Not harvested; maintain shape through light pruning in late winter (February-March) or early spring before new growth. Prune selectively to maintain natural form rather than shearing heavily.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Soft Touch Boxwood is a Japanese cultivar (Buxus microphylla) that is notably more heat and humidity tolerant than European boxwoods, making it better suited for warmer climates.
- 🌱 Boxwoods are among the oldest cultivated ornamental plants, with evidence of their use in gardens dating back to ancient Rome and the Renaissance.
- 🌱 The wood of boxwood is extremely dense and fine-grained, historically making it the preferred material for fine woodworking, tool handles, and engraving blocks—so valuable that it was sometimes called 'green gold.'
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