In principle, you can assume that building a boxwood hedge will take many years. Buchs usually grows very slowly, and the rate of growth can hardly be accelerated by external factors. However, there are major differences between each variety.
The growth rate of boxwood depends on the variety
Boxwood grows slowly - mostly
The boxwood is a very varied tree. Here you will find very slow-growing varieties such as the popular edging varieties 'Blauer Heinz' and 'Suffruticosa', which need at least ten years to reach a height of around 60 centimetres. On the other hand, the large-growing variants, which reach up to five meters and more, are significantly faster. But these are also rather slow compared to other deciduous trees with up to 15 centimeters per year. For the construction of a hedge or a topiary made of boxwood you need one thing above all: patience.
Average growth of different boxwood varieties
| variety | kind | growth rate | growth height | growth width |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ,Faulkner' | Buxus microphylla | 5 to 15 centimeters / year | 100 to 200 centimeters | 100 to 200 centimeters |
| 'Herrenhausen' | Buxus microphylla | 8 to 15 centimeters / year | 30 to 60 centimeters | 50 to 70 centimeters |
| 'Golden Triumph' | Buxus microphylla | 5 to 8 centimeters / year | up to approx. 100 centimeters | up to approx. 120 centimeters |
| 'Elegantissima' | Buxus sempervirens | 4 to 6 centimeters / year | 100 to 150 centimeters | 50 to 100 centimeters |
| 'Blue Heinz' | Buxus sempervirens | 4 to 6 centimeters / year | 40 to 50 centimeters | 40 to 50 centimeters |
| 'Suffruticosa' | Buxus sempervirens | 3 to 5 centimeters / year | 50 to 100 centimeters | 30 to 60 centimeters |
| 'Handsworthiensis' | Buxus sempervirens | 10 to 25 centimeters / year | 200 to 300 centimeters | 100 to 200 centimeters |
| 'Latifolia Maculata' | Buxus sempervirens | 5 to 15 centimeters / year | 80 to 120 centimeters | 50 to 80 centimeters |
| 'Rotundifolia' | Buxus sempervirens | 10 to 20 centimeters / year | 250 to 400 centimeters | 250 to 300 centimeters |
| 'Aureovariegata' | Buxus sempervirens | 5 to 15 centimeters / year | 300 to 500 centimeters | 200 to 300 centimeters |
| Tall boxwood | Buxus sempervirens var. arborescens | 10 to 30 centimeters / year | 300 to 500 centimeters | 200 to 400 centimeters |
tips
Don't be tempted to speed up growth by adding more fertilizer. This would definitely not have the desired effect, in fact it would rather encourage disease and pest infestation.