Green Mountain Boxwood

Green Mountain Boxwood is a naturally upright, pyramidal evergreen perfect for formal entry plantings and tight foundation beds in Edina, Wayzata, and Minnetonka — a Sheridan Nurseries hybrid bred for zone 4 hardiness.

About Green Mountain Boxwood

Why You'll Love Green Mountain Boxwood

Mixed borders

Anchors mixed-shrub borders with seasonal interest.

Foundation plantings

Reliable foundation choice for Minneapolis, St. Paul, surrounding suburbs.

Pollinator gardens

Adds habitat value to a Lawns to Legumes yard.

Upright pyramidal hardy boxwood

Upright pyramidal form without pruning — hardy where most boxwoods fail. That's why Green Mountain Boxwood has earned a spot in our Minnesota launch catalog — it's a shrub we're confident will thrive in your Twin Cities landscape.

Planting Green Mountain Boxwood in the Twin Cities

Best planting window: Spring (mid-April through early June) or early fall (late August through late September). Avoid planting during peak summer heat — Twin Cities heat waves can stress newly installed root balls.

Site selection: Full sun to part shade. Choose a location with the mature size of 4-5ft tall × 2-3ft wide in mind — give Green Mountain Boxwood room to fill out without crowding fences, sidewalks, or neighboring plants.

Soil prep: Tolerates Minnesota clay-loam. If your Twin Cities yard has heavy clay (common in Plymouth, Eden Prairie, and Wayzata), amend the planting hole with 25-30% compost to improve drainage. For sandy soils in parts of Anoka and Washington counties, mix in compost to improve water retention.

How to plant:

1. Dig a hole 2× the width of the root ball and the same depth.
2. Loosen the sides of the hole — slick clay walls block root expansion.
3. Set Green Mountain Boxwood so the top of the root ball is 1-2" above grade.
4. Backfill with native soil mixed 25% with compost. Tamp gently.
5. Water deeply (5+ gallons) immediately after planting.
6. Mulch 2-3" deep, keeping mulch 2" away from the stem.

Watering & Care

First year (establishment): Water deeply 1-2× per week from April through October. Green Mountain Boxwood needs consistent moisture to develop a strong root system for its first Minnesota winter. Check soil moisture 4-6" deep — water when the top 2-3" feels dry.

Established (year 2+): Moderate. During typical Twin Cities summers, supplemental water during 2+ week dry spells is enough.

Winter prep: Water deeply in late October before ground freeze — this protects Green Mountain Boxwood through dry winter winds. Apply a fresh 2-3" layer of mulch in November to insulate the root zone through deep freezes.

Pruning: Prune in early spring before new growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Green Mountain Boxwood hardy in Minnesota?
Yes. Green Mountain Boxwood is rated for zones 3-7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — the Twin Cities metro is zone 4b–5a, well within its hardiness range. Upright pyramidal form without pruning — hardy where most boxwoods fail.

How fast does Green Mountain Boxwood grow?
Moderate — 12-18 inches per year. Expect mature size (4-5ft tall × 2-3ft wide) within 5-8 years depending on site conditions and care.

Will deer eat Green Mountain Boxwood?
Moderately deer-resistant. In high-deer-pressure suburbs (Wayzata, Stillwater, Hudson), supplemental fencing or repellents may help young plants establish.

Can I plant Green Mountain Boxwood in part shade?
Full sun to part shade.

What size gallon should I buy?
We typically offer Green Mountain Boxwood in #2, #5, #10, and sometimes larger gallon sizes. Smaller sizes establish faster and cost less; larger sizes give instant impact. For most Twin Cities residential landscapes, #5 or #10 gallon is the sweet spot.

Where We Deliver

Three Timbers Minnesota delivers and installs Green Mountain Boxwood across the Twin Cities metro — Minneapolis, St. Paul, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Edina, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Wayzata, Bloomington, Apple Valley, Burnsville, Lakeville, Eagan, Roseville, Shoreview, Stillwater, Woodbury, Hudson, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, Chanhassen, Excelsior, Victoria, Chaska, and surrounding communities. Live Green Mountain Boxwood grown for our climate and delivered fresh from our Waconia, MN nursery.

How Many Green Mountain Boxwood Do I Need?

For a formal evergreen hedge, space Green Mountain Boxwood 2 feet apart — its 2–3 foot width closes the line into a solid wall you can shear crisp.

As an entry accent, plant a matched pair flanking the front door, or use a single pyramid as a formal exclamation point in a foundation bed — give each plant a 3-foot circle.

Green Mountain Boxwood Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Bright lime-green new growth tips every branch, refreshing the pyramid after winter.
• Summer: Dense, fine-textured deep green foliage holds its naturally pyramidal shape with little or no shearing.
• Fall: Stays fully green while the rest of the landscape goes bare — the formal bones of the garden emerge.
• Winter: One of the few broadleaf evergreens that holds good color through a zone 4b–5a winter; a burlap screen on exposed southwest faces prevents bronzing.

At a Glance

✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest

Plant It With

• Green Velvet Boxwood — the rounded sibling; use it as the low hedge beneath Green Mountain's upright pyramids.
• Northern Charm Boxwood — another zone-4-proven boxwood for extending the formal line.
• Green Mound Alpine Currant — a tough deciduous mound that matches the tidy scale in shadier stretches.
• Hetz Midget Arborvitae — a globe evergreen companion for texture contrast in the same bed.

Is Green Mountain Boxwood Right for Your Yard?

If you want formal, architectural evergreen structure — flanked entries, sheared hedges, tidy pyramids — in sun or part shade on decent drainage, Green Mountain is the boxwood bred to survive it here. It's not a fit for a windswept, exposed site with no winter snow cover; harsh sun and wind off open ground bronze the foliage, so give it some shelter or plan on burlap.