Chicagoland Green Boxwood
Chicagoland Green Boxwood
A Hardy Evergreen Boxwood Built for Minnesota Winters
Chicagoland Green Boxwood (Buxus 'Glencoe') is the boxwood Northern gardeners have been waiting for, bred for cold tolerance and excellent resistance to winter burn. Its dense, rounded form holds rich green foliage through the seasons, giving structure and year-round color to beds that otherwise go bare in winter. Deer leave it alone, it shears beautifully into low hedges and globes, and it anchors foundation plantings in Eden Prairie, Plymouth, and Minnetonka with classic evergreen polish.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Buxus 'Glencoe' (Chicagoland Green) |
| Mature Size | 3 ft tall and wide |
| Hardiness Zone | Zone 4–9 (hardy across most of Minnesota) |
| Light | Full sun to part shade; tolerates shade |
| Foliage | Evergreen; rich green, holds color in winter |
| Habit | Dense, rounded; takes shearing well |
| Soil | Moist, well-drained; dislikes soggy soil |
Landscape Uses
Use Chicagoland Green as a low formal or informal hedge, an edging along walks, clipped globes by an entry, or evergreen structure in mixed borders and foundation beds. Its tidy form and winter color make it a backbone plant for four-season gardens.
Best Time to Plant
Plant in spring or early fall so roots establish before extreme heat or hard frost. A protected spot out of harsh winter wind reduces the risk of winter burn.
How to Plant
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the crown level with the soil surface, backfill, water thoroughly, and mulch 2–3 inches deep, keeping mulch off the stems. Choose a site with good drainage.
Watering
First Year: Water deeply 2–3 times per week to establish the root system.
After Year One: Water weekly during dry spells. A deep watering in late fall before freeze-up helps prevent winter desiccation.
Drip Irrigation: A drip line delivers steady moisture without wetting the foliage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this boxwood hardy in Minnesota?
Yes. 'Glencoe' was selected for cold hardiness and winter-burn resistance, making it one of the best boxwoods for Zone 4.
Does it stay green in winter?
Yes, it's a broadleaf evergreen that holds green foliage year-round, though a sheltered site helps it look its best after a hard winter.
Is it deer resistant?
Yes, boxwood is one of the most reliably deer-resistant shrubs available.
Can I shear it into a hedge?
Absolutely. It responds well to shearing and holds a clean formal shape.
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Pair Chicagoland Green Boxwood with our other evergreens and deer-resistant shrubs for year-round structure and a polished foundation planting.
How Many Chicagoland Green Boxwoods Do I Need?
For a continuous low formal hedge or walkway edging, space Chicagoland Green about 2–2.5 feet apart — its 3-foot mature spread closes the line into a solid clipped band:
| Run Length | Plants Needed (2–2.5 ft spacing) |
| 5 feet | 2–3 |
| 10 feet | 4–5 |
| 20 feet | 8–10 |
| 30 feet | 12–15 |
For entry accents, plant matched pairs flanking a door or single clipped globes every 6–8 feet along a foundation bed.
Chicagoland Green Boxwood Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Bright new growth flushes light green over the older foliage; do the main shaping shear in late spring after the flush hardens.
- Summer: A dense, polished green mound that holds its clipped shape — light touch-up shearing keeps hedges and globes crisp.
- Fall: Foliage stays rich green while the rest of the bed goes bare; give it a deep late-fall watering before freeze-up to head off winter desiccation.
- Winter: The payoff season — green structure above the snow all winter, with 'Glencoe' breeding keeping winter burn to a minimum in a site sheltered from harsh wind.
At a Glance
✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Shade-Tolerant ✔ Evergreen ✔ Four-Season Interest
Plant It With
- Green Velvet Boxwood — a slightly softer-textured boxwood for mixing forms within the same formal planting.
- Gold Splash Wintercreeper — gold-variegated evergreen foliage to brighten the front of a green hedge.
- Blue Star Juniper — steel-blue evergreen contrast in the sunnier stretch of the bed.
- Blue Shadow Fothergilla — blue summer foliage and fiery fall color rising behind the clipped green band.
Is Chicagoland Green Boxwood Right for Your Yard?
Chicagoland Green thrives in full sun to part shade with moist, well-drained soil and a little shelter from brutal winter wind — ideal for foundation beds, entries, and formal edging where deer pressure would shred other evergreens. It's not a fit for soggy, poorly drained spots or wide-open sites blasted by northwest winter wind, where even this hardy boxwood can show winter burn.