Northern Charm Boxwood (Buxus 'Wilson')
BUKS-us 'Wilson'

Evergreen Perennial Compact, Oval to Rounded in the Buxaceae Family
Introducing Buxus 'Wilson,' a slow-growing gem with a naturally elegant rounded shape. Enjoy its semi-glossy emerald leaves in summer, which take on a striking bluish cast and deep black-green hue in winter!
Buxus 'Wilson' (Northern Charm™ Boxwood) is a Chicagoland Grows™ introduction valued for its compact, oval-to-rounded form and notable cold hardiness to USDA Zone 4. Its semi-glossy emerald foliage takes on an attractive bluish cast and deep black-green hue through winter. Like other boxwoods, it bears small, inconspicuous spring flowers with an unpleasant odor rather than a pleasant fragrance. A versatile evergreen, it performs well as a low hedge, foundation planting, or specimen shrub in full sun to partial shade.

Pros

  • Compact, naturally rounded form needs minimal shaping
  • Notably cold-hardy to USDA Zone 4, hardier than most boxwood hybrids
  • Attractive winter foliage color change to bluish black-green
  • Deer resistant and low maintenance

Cons

  • Spring flowers have an unpleasant odor, typical of boxwood
  • Mature size estimates vary notably by source (see audit note)
  • Shallow roots need mulch and consistent moisture
  • Can be prone to winter bronzing in exposed sites
Highlights A Chicagoland Grows™ introduction prized for outstanding cold hardiness (Zone 4) and handsome winter foliage color.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 4 feet tall. 3 - 4 feet wide.
Growth Rate Medium
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Moist/Well Drained
Zones 4b - 9b (Usually hardy to -25° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Container, Deer Resistant, Evergreen, Filler, Formal Garden, Foundation, Full Sun, Good for Asian Garden, Good for Borders, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Hedges, Good for Mass Planting, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Insignificant Flowers, Medium, Most Popular, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Potentially Allergenic, Potentially Toxic, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Shrub, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Winter Interest
Flower Color Creamy Yellow
Foliage Color Green
 

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Commonly Planted with...

Hostas, Ferns, Heucheras, Astilbes, Lamium, Tiarella, Coral Bells, Sedges, Pulmonarias.

Photos of This with...

Amazing Grace Katsuratree, Frontier Elm
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 09/20
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 05/04 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!