Korean Boxwood 'Tide Hill' is a dense, compact evergreen shrub that brings architectural structure and year-round interest to northern gardens where boxwoods traditionally struggle. This botanical variety of Buxus sinica var. insularis grows slowly to 12-24 inches tall with a spread of 36-60 inches, developing a broad, mounded form with a loose and open habit. Hardy in zones 4 through 9, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and tolerates moderate moisture. What distinguishes 'Tide Hill' specifically is its exceptional winter resilience, retaining vibrant green foliage even through harsh winters when other boxwoods bronze and fade.
Partial Sun
Moderate
4-9
24in H x 60in W
—
High
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Korean Boxwood 'Tide Hill' earns its reputation as an extremely hardy variety through proven cold tolerance and notably consistent winter color, a feature bred into this selection to outperform standard Korean boxwoods in northern climates. Its slow growth habit of approximately 1.5 inches per year means you're making a long-term investment rather than a maintenance commitment. Deer and rabbits leave it untouched, making it valuable for properties where browsing pressure defeats other ornamentals. The dense branching and mounded profile make it equally effective as a low ground cover or as a foundation hedge, depending on your pruning approach.
Korean Boxwood 'Tide Hill' functions as both a ground cover and a structured hedge, depending on your vision. Its naturally broad, mounded form lends itself to informal borders and foundation plantings, while its tolerance for pruning and shearing allows for more formal hedge applications. The compact size and dense branching make it especially valuable in northern gardens where conventional boxwoods often fail, extending the aesthetic possibilities for gardeners in colder zones.
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Korean Boxwood 'Tide Hill' responds well to both renewal and maintenance pruning. Thin the plant annually, removing dead or damaged branches to improve air circulation and overall plant health. Shear and prune as desired to shape the broad, mounded form, knowing that this variety tolerates pruning very well. Because it grows slowly at roughly 1.5 inches per year, aggressive pruning is typically unnecessary unless you're establishing a formal hedge; light, annual thinning usually suffices to maintain the plant's natural density and appearance.
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