Garden Design #78

Thuja Smaragd, also known as Emerald Cedar, is a versatile evergreen conifer that adds year-round interest to your garden. Originating from the family Cupressaceae, this cultivar is known for its compact, pyramidal form and brilliant emerald-green foliage. The leaves are scale-like, tightly packed and arranged in flattened sprays, giving the tree a fine-textured, feathery appearance. The foliage retains its vibrant colour throughout the year and releases a pleasant aroma when crushed. Thuja Smaragd is a low-maintenance plant that thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained, moist soil. It is drought-tolerant once established and generally resistant to pests and diseases. With a slow to moderate growth rate, it reaches a mature height of about 3m and a width of 75cm, making it an excellent choice for hedges, screens, and foundation plantings.

Read our blog on perfect urban trees to plant in your garden, including Thuja Smaragd, here.

Buxus sempervirens, commonly known as English Box, is a classic evergreen shrub favoured for its lush, dark green foliage and versatility in shaping. With its dense, slow-growing habit, this species is ideal for formal hedging, topiary, and structured planting. It responds well to regular trimming and provides year-round structure and greenery.

Well suited to formal, Mediterranean, and traditional garden designs, it is often used to define borders, pathways, or create feature shapes.

Plant in full sun to part shade, in well-drained soil with moderate moisture. For hedging, space 30–40 cm apart to achieve a dense, uniform effect.

Mature size: Reaches approximately 1.5 metres high and wide if left untrimmed, forming a dense, rounded shrub.

Need a few? Same plants, better price, free shipping. Click here to check out the Box Lot!

Shop our Flat-packs with buxus: Pre-designed gardens - Choose the length. Get the plan + the plants delivered to your door.
Buxus + Lavender + Rose
Buxus + Lavender
Magnolia, Helleborus, Rhododendron & Buxus
Pleached Hornbeam + Ligularia + Buxus
Pleached Hornbeam + Forget Me Not + Rhododendron + Buxus
Thuja, Buxus & Acaena
Carpinus + Buxus

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Griselinia littoralis Ardmore Emerald, also known as Kāpuka, is a great variety of the classic New Zealand native broadleaf. This evergreen shrub is characterised by its vibrant, glossy dark emerald-green leaves that remain lush throughout the year. With a compact and dense growth habit, Ardmore Emerald is the perfect choice for creating privacy screens, hedges, or as a standalone feature in garden beds.

Broadleaf is known for its adaptability and resilience. It thrives in a range of soil types and is tolerant of coastal conditions, making it a versatile addition to diverse landscapes. With a mature height of about 3-4m, it offers both height and structure to gardens, while its dense foliage provides a haven for local birdlife. It produces small, green-yellow flowers in late spring to mid-summer which adds to its appeal. 

Whether you're crafting a natural barrier, adding greenery to coastal properties, or simply looking for a hardy and attractive shrub, Griselinia littoralis Ardmore Emerald promises to be a reliable and enchanting choice for any garden setting.

Agapanthus Finn is a compact, deciduous variety featuring pure white, trumpet-shaped flowers held on sturdy stems during summer. Its neat, clumping foliage of narrow green leaves provides a tidy, structured appearance, making it an excellent choice for borders, edging, or container planting. The striking blue flowers bring vibrant colour to any garden space.

Well-suited to cottage, modern, or coastal gardens, Finn thrives in full sun and prefers well-drained soils. It is hardy, low maintenance, and moderately drought-tolerant once established. Space plants 20–30 cm apart for a dense and uniform display.

Mature size: Grows up to 40–50 cm in height and width, forming a compact, clumping habit.

Need a few? Same plants, better price, free shipping. Click here to check out the Box Lot!

Laurus nobilis, commonly known as the Bay Tree or Bay Laurel, is an evergreen shrub that is a culinary and ornamental gem, boasting glossy green leaves that are not only visually appealing but also serve as a cherished edible herb.

Originating from the Mediterranean region, the Bay Tree is a symbol of victory and honour. Its fragrant yellow flowers bloom in spring, paving the way for small black fruit that adds to its ornamental value. Beyond its beauty, the leathery, dark-green leaves are a staple in many kitchens, used for flavouring a variety of dishes.

Growing to a mature height of 8m with a width of 3m, Laurus nobilis showcases a compact, pyramidal shape. Its growth rate is slow, ensuring that it remains manageable for those who wish to shape it. Indeed, its amenable nature to pruning makes it an ideal candidate for topiary, hedging, or even as a dense, aromatic barrier in gardens. Especially suited for coastal sites, the Bay Tree is frost tender when young but becomes more resilient as it matures.

If you're looking to introduce a touch of the Mediterranean, craft a natural aromatic barrier, or simply add a versatile herb to your garden, the Bay Laurel is a timeless and captivating choice.

Need a few? Same plants, better price, free shipping. Click here to check out the Box Lot!

Prunus lusitanica, commonly known as Portuguese laurel, is a lush, evergreen shrub known for its deep green, glossy leaves and delicate white flower clusters. This plant offers a classic elegance to any garden space, making it a favourite for creating structured designs like hedges and privacy screens.

In the garden, Prunus lusitanica is highly versatile. It can be used as a standalone feature plant, providing a dense and compact form, or it can be clipped into formal shapes, making it ideal for topiary or hedging. Its ability to withstand regular pruning allows gardeners to maintain a neat, tidy appearance year-round. The Portuguese laurel thrives in a variety of garden styles, from formal to woodland settings, and its dense foliage provides excellent shelter for wildlife.

Preferring a position in full sun to partial shade, Prunus lusitanica adapts well to most soil types, provided they are well-draining. It appreciates moist, but not waterlogged, conditions, ensuring healthy growth and the development of its small, fragrant white flowers that appear in early summer.

When planting Prunus lusitanica, spacing should be considered based on its intended use; for a thick hedge, plants should be spaced approximately 60-90cm apart. For individual specimens, allowing more room for growth will enable the shrub to form a naturally rounded shape.

Mature Prunus lusitanica can reach up to 4-6m in height and 2-4m in width if not trimmed, making it an impressive addition to the landscape with its robust size and elegant appearance.

Need a few? Same plants, better price, free shipping. Click here to check out the Box Lot!

Carex secta, commonly known as Pukio, Makura or swamp sedge, is a robust perennial grass native to New Zealand, renowned for its lush, bright green, strap-like leaves and dense clumping habit. It naturally occurs in wetlands and swampy areas, indicating its preference for moist, boggy conditions.

In the garden, Carex secta is ideal for creating naturalistic plantings, especially in wetland or water garden settings. It can be used for erosion control, along waterways, or in areas where water accumulates, providing both aesthetic appeal and environmental benefits. 

Makura prefers full sun to partial shade and thrives in wet, boggy soils, making it a perfect choice for areas that are difficult to plant due to excessive moisture. It can also adapt to drier conditions once established, but it truly excels in environments that mimic its natural wetland habitat. When planting, a spacing of about 50-70cm apart is recommended to allow the plants to spread and form a thick, lush mass.

The mature: Can reach heights of up to 1-2m with a similar spread.