Boxwood Alternatives for Chelsea-Style Topiary Without the Blight

As the Chelsea Flower Show approaches, the "new English" garden style—featuring tight, clipped boxwood topiary—remains a dominant trend. But box blight (Cylindrocladium buxicola), a fungal disease specific to boxwood, has made growing it problematic. The disease discolors foliage, then kills stems. It's airborne with no easy prevention, though cultural practices help: avoid watering foliage (use drip irrigation), keep tools clean, remove dead leaves.

No boxwood species is immune, so finding substitutes is crucial. Designers may prefer boxwood's regularity, but mixing alternatives creates interesting tone, texture, and color variations. Here are excellent substitutes for clipped topiary.

Privet Honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata; zones 6–9)

Normally a ground cover with horizontal branches, it makes a good closely clipped specimen. Fresh green spring foliage and miniature sweetly scented white flowers until late spring.

Honeysuckle 'Baggesen's Gold' (Lonicera nitida 'Baggesen's Gold'; zones 6–9)

Small-leaved golden evergreen, favorite for containers. Responds to tight clipping but has strong horizontal shoots. Retains gold best in full sun, where it's drought-tolerant.

Japanese Holly 'Golden Gem' (Ilex crenata 'Golden Gem'; zones 5–9)

Perfect slow-growing evergreen boxwood substitute. Member of holly family without traditional leaf formation. Available in gold (shown) or green.

Sawara Cypress 'Golden Mop' (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Golden Mop'; zones 5–7)

Some conifers naturally form the mounded shapes we create by clipping. This slow-grower forms a perfect golden mound without pruning. Other dome-formers: Picea abies 'Little Gem', Cryptomeria japonica 'Globosa'.

Small-Leaved Hebes

Wide choice, love temperate climates (mostly from New Zealand). Hardy, especially small-leaved varieties coping with dry and maritime conditions. Many naturally form evergreen domes needing no clipping, with summer flower interest.

• Hebe 'Green Globe': Tight moss-green globe, pure white summer flowers. Great in containers or borders.
• Hebe topiaria: Super dome-shaped with silver-green foliage setting off white summer flowers.
• Hebe rakaiensis: Very tight light green dome, white flowers June–July.
• Hebe 'Baby Marie': One of the smallest dome-formers, compact, low-growing, pale green foliage.