Boxwood shrubs are evergreen shrubs often used in elegant and formal landscapes. They are grown for their dark green foliage rather than any flowers. This characteristic makes them popular to create hedges, borders, or pairs of arrangements to balance entryways. Since real plants can be temperamental and need a lot of maintenance, opting for artificial boxwood shrubs can save you a lot of time and effort in the long run. You don’t have to worry about pests, watering, or trimming your plant to keep its perfect shape. To help you maintain gorgeous all-year greenery we have picked out the best artificial boxwood shrubs in 2023. Boxwood shrubs varieties can be used indoors or outdoors. Such evergreen shrubs can be manipulated and shaped to fit the size and function you need them for whether in your garden, lounge, balcony, or pool deck.
What Is the Top Boxwood Shrub of 2023?
Best Overall
Whonline’s set of 10 shrub bundles have small leaves and make for a perfect filler in planters, pots, and windowsill placements. These shrub stems are 13.4 inches high with adjustable branches up to 7.5 inches in width. The plastic stems and leaves are suitable for outdoor use and made of high-quality PE. They are durable, allowing you to have no-maintenance displays in your home, office, porch, or garden without worrying about wilting.
Pros
- Delicate light green leaves
- Adjustable stems
- Made from easy-to-clean plastic
- No maintenance required
Cons
- Purchase does not come with pots or planters
Runner Up
These bright green boxwood bouquets are a great maintenance-free compliment to any garden or indoor setting. They are 13.4 inches in height with flexible stems to adjust according to your setting. Made with high-quality PE material and suitable for the outdoors, they stay vibrant all year long, and can be washed with water to remove dust or dirt. Besides adding a great lush look to outdoor areas, they are ideal for large flower arrangements, indoor décor, and patios. The boxwood bouquets offer a full and lush look as opposed to other stems that have sparser leaves.
Pros
- Adjustable stems
- Pack of 8 stems
- Made from easy-to-clean plastic
- No maintenance required
Cons
- Purchase does not come with pots or planters
Honorable Mention
These dense boxwood shrub bouquets each have 42 stems making for a lush bundle. They are ideal for pots, planters, and vases. Each order contains 6 dense bouquets at a great price. The shrubs are UV and water resistant making them good for landscaping projects, to plant along fences, walls, and even along ponds. The branches are adjustable and full stem height is 13.5 inches. Since these shrubs are dense they can be placed in rows next to each other to create vibrant short barriers between areas or along walkways.
Pros
- Adjustable stems
- Pack of 6 dense bouquets
- Suitable for indoors and outdoors
- No maintenance required
Cons
- Purchase does not come with pots or planter
Contender
Cewor’s bright green boxwood shrubs come in a pack of 8 maintenance-free artificial plants perfect for windowsill planters, garden settings, pot plants or even vase arrangements. The stems are 13.4 inches from top to bottom and are flexible so you can adjust them accordingly. The leaves and branches are detachable so you can add or take away as many as you need for your arrangement. The plants are easy to clean with water and are made with high-quality PE material. They are suitable for outdoor placement, weather resistant, and stay vibrant all year long.
Pros
- Adjustable stems
- Detachable leaves
- Pack of 8 shrubs
- Suitable for indoors and outdoors
Cons
- Plastic leaves can have an artificial appearance up close
Also Consider
LSD provides a range of boxwood shrubs with flowers in various colors. The order includes 8 bundles each with 7 flexible stems and dense leaves. Each stem has a height of 14 inches and can be adjusted to spread out fully to 9 inches wide. The artificial shrubs are great for indoor or outdoor use and look great in windowsill planters or pot plants with their bright colors. They are easy to clean with water. Branches can be detached to thin out or thicken the density of each bouquet.
Pros
- Adjustable stems
- Detachable leaves
- Pack of 8 shrubs
- Suitable for indoors and outdoors
Cons
- Plastic flowers can have an artificial appearance up close
Also Consider
These triple ball boxwood trees are made with premium quality durable plastic for indoor or outdoor placement. They are UV and weather resistant and won’t get damaged in rain or heat. The shrubs have multi layered, rounded leaves and feature life-like colors and natural feeling textures. Each order includes 2 trees with an approximate height of 4.6′, ideal for porches, entrances, and foyers. Cement-weighted pots offer good stability and are easy to simply place inside your desired pots or planters.
Pros
- Includes a pot base
- The shrub is a complete plant and does not need additional fillers
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor placement
- Realistic looking with a sturdy base
Cons
- Although the leaves are very life-like, the bark doesn’t look equally as authentic
Also Consider
This pack of 11 boxwood shrubs are bright with small tear-drop-shaped leaves. Each stem is 13.4 inches long with six soft stems full of vibrant green leaves. The artificial boxwood shrubs are made of high-quality plastic and can be washed with water if they become dusty or dirty. The stems are adjustable so you can spread them out as preferred to suit your space without worrying about them breaking. These lush shrub stems are perfect for indoor decorations in offices, kitchens, and dining areas, to fill up planters on your balcony or in your garden
Pros
- Adjustable stems
- Pack of 11 stems
- Suitable for indoors and outdoors
- No maintenance required
Cons
- Plastic leaves can have an artificial appearance up close
A Complete Buyer's Guide to Fake Boxwood Shrubs
Boxwood shrubs are a popular evergreen hedging material. Due to the small dense leaves that grow in clusters, they create a great screen or barrier that lasts year-round. Boxwood shrubs are also popular for trimming into shapes such as spheres or lollipop designs. They do however need plenty of attention and that is why choosing an artificial boxwood shrub can help you capture the exact look you need without any maintenance.
Not only do artificial options save you time but they don’t require watering, won’t suffer or wilt from plant diseases, and won’t shed leaves across your driveway or pool. When it comes to artificial boxwood shrubs you do want to make sure you get the right size, shape, and most authentic-looking plant. In addition, if you are planning to use the shrubs outdoors, there are a few extra factors to look out for in terms of product quality. In this guide, we’ll highlight everything you need to consider when choosing the best artificial boxwood shrubs for your home or garden.
What to Consider When Choosing Artificial Boxwood Shrubs
Size
If you are a busy person and have very less time to plant boxwood shrubs, artificial boxwood plants are your best option. Artificial boxwood shrubs are available in a large variety of sizes and shapes. You can purchase loose stems, topiaries, small unshaped shrubs in pots, and even full-size hedges. The size of your chosen shrub and design should be realistic for the space you have available and the purpose you wish to use it for. Carefully measure spaces for hedges, fences, or dividers. If you are planning on using the plant indoors, leave some leeway when measuring to allow you to change planters over time so the fit is not too tight.
When measuring your plant or hedge, start from the bottom where the planter touches the floor and measure to the tallest reference point being the highest leaf or branch. Use the same guidelines for balconies, porches, and other enclosed or partially enclosed areas.
Indoor vs. outdoor placement
Purchasing artificial boxwood shrubs or stems for indoor use is fairly simple as you don’t need to take the wear and tear of natural elements into consideration. However, if you are using the greenery outdoors make sure the plant is specifically designed for outdoor use, is weather-proof, and UV resistant. If it is a hedge or divider make sure it can be securely structured and hold its position in any windy conditions. For indoors, opt for the green velvet boxwood variety, or wintergreen boxwood to make your home look aesthetically beautiful.
Materials
Most artificial shrubs are made from plastic, silk, and polyester. Use of green velvet also makes them look more realistic. Plastic and silk are popular since they offer a realistic appearance and flexibility to adjust the position and curvature of leaves and branches. When choosing your shrubs, like japanese boxwood look for stems that mimic natural textures, color gradations, and leaf veins.
Choose artificial boxwood shrubs that reflect the look of the real plant in detail. Quality artificial plants often purposefully have imperfections such as partially dried edges on leaves to make them more authentic. Avoid glossy finishes and additions like fake rain droplets to make the dark green foliage look more real.
Style
Your choice of shrub or hedge design can reflect different styles in your home and garden. Choose a design that will compliment your interior décor or outdoor style. This can include unshaped, free-flowing plants, hanging boxwood shrubs, or meticulously manicured bushes. If you wish to add a hint of color amidst your evergreen foliage, opt for variegated foliage that grows leaves in different color patterns. Make sure you check from all available options like american boxwood, japanese boxwood, english boxwood, wintergreen boxwood before making your selection.
Symmetry
Artificial stems and leaves that are perfectly symmetrical and identical are a dead giveaway. Look for different leaf sizes and thicknesses. Also, consider removing or repositioning some leaves or stems for a more authentic look.
Accessories
When taking the price into account also consider whether the plant comes in a planter or pot with soil, pebbles, or fake moss. Some artificial shrubs don’t come with any additions. Even if your shrub does come in a pot, you may want to change the style of the planter as well as the fake soil cover which will add up in the final cost.
Artificial Boxwood Shrub Décor Tips
- To make overly glossy plastic leaves look more realistic you can spray on a layer of matte sealer.
- Mix your artificial greenery amongst real plants. You could put an actual potted plant in the middle of a group of fake ones to add some authenticity.
- Consider hanging boxwood shrubs for tight spaces.
- Place your shrubs in areas where they would naturally receive enough light to grow well if they were real.
- Fluff your shrubs occasionally, especially if their branches and leaves are adjustable. Your shrub will most likely be compressed from shipping with all its branches clumped together. Once you open and place the shrub, spread out the branches and leaves for a naturally full look.
For tips on how to display your new fake boxwood shrub in a planter, check out this helpful video below.
People Also Asked
How do you clean artificial boxwood shrubs?
To clean your boxwood bushes, you can run a feather duster over the leaves, or use a microfibre or damp cloth to wipe leaves and stems.
How can you prevent outdoor artificial shrubs from fading?
You can use a UV-resistant spray on your shrubs to prevent the plastic or other material from fading in the hot sun. This will make your plants last longer. Ensure your plant is clean and completely dry. Place the artificial shrub on newspaper in a well-ventilated area (preferably outdoors) before spraying it with a UV-resistant solution.
How long do artificial boxwood hedges last?
Good quality hedges that are UV resistant will last up to 15 years. Many manufacturers also offer a 1 to 3-year guarantee on such dark green foliage plants.
What plants match well with boxwood shrubs?
Boxwood shrubs create a vibrant green backdrop for colorful perennial flowers. You can mix flowering shrubs with boxwoods such as potentilla and dwarf spirea or use bright flowers like salvia, black-eyed Susan, cosmos cosmos, zinnias, and cleome.
