Boxwood is an iconic go-to in gardening, a low key, easy-to-hedge shrub or small tree, found in gardens across the countryside, from north to south and old world to new. However, at the GardenComm Virtual Conference last month, where a multitude of new plant varieties were unveiled, I discovered a collection of boxwood alternatives from Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs. Let’s learn about these plants together, in honor of the “bring back branches” command that Nehemiah made for the Feast of Tabernacles, celebrated this week.
So they issued a proclamation, and it went out to everyone in Jerusalem and in every town that people should go into the hills to gather branches from olive trees, wild olive trees, myrtle trees, palm trees—any kind of leafy tree they could find. With these branches they were told to build temporary shelters to house them during the festival, as God’s law declared. Nehemiah 8:15 VOICE
Boxwood is a Biblical evergreen, mentioned by name in most translations in the poetic words of the prophet Isaiah. It is found in northern Holy Land forests, just beyond the hills and waterways that were searched for Sukkot decorating as Nehemiah encouraged. Yet boxwood fits more generally with the holiday’s attention on vibrant, leafy boughs, an inviting context to discover backdrop options for our own gardens.
Boxwood Alternatives
Naturally, I prefer to plant the exact species named in the Bible when possible, bringing Scripture to life in a garden. Some substitutes are inevitable, of course, and an alternate plant better suited to our garden’s conditions can still connect us to God’s Word.
Why pursue plants to take this faithful performer’s place? After all, boxwood is a basic, going back centuries in garden design, one of the most steadfast garden plants. They stand guard to “box” in flower beds and conceal foundations year-round; their easy-to-shear nature lends a handsome, tidy line to abounding, formless sprays of blooming masses. Alas, they are not always trouble-free.
Boxwood can suffer freeze damage; their shallow root system can make them vulnerable in low-moisture situations. There are a few pestering diseases that can plague their performance, and some varieties have a musky, near-skunkish scent. The odor can be off-putting in the garden, and cut branches brought indoors can release a sour smell. Too bad, because otherwise they are a plentiful, bright filler for floral bouquets and a cheery, needleless evergreen for holiday wreaths.
And of course, they need to be “boxed,” or consistently trimmed, to keep a compact habit and low-profile or geometric shaping, though dwarf varieties are available.
Propagators at Proven Winners ColorChoice saw an opportunity to enhance all of the cherished uses of boxwood with a collection of alternative, similarly foliated cultivars. These leafy beauties add a further measure of hardiness and disease resistance, featuring dense, shiny leaves and less need for shearing and shaping, if plump bushes or mid-height rows are the look you want.
Explore boxwood alternatives at Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs
Squeeze Box™ and Strongbox®, cultivars of Ilex glabra, come from North America’s forests and thickets. These native plant specimens have pliable, petite leaves compared to typical hollies, with gentle branching and measured growth. Squeeze Box™ (shown at left) will reach 4 to 6 feet tall in columnar form, while Strongbox® remains a 2 to 3 foot, low-growing tuft.
True to their holly heritage, pair male and female (“Squeeze”=male, “Strong”=female) plants in your landscape to pollinate and produce blue ornamental berries on the female in fall, hence their common name Inkberry Holly. Both shrubs need full to part sun exposure. Strongbox® (pictured right) shows a flush of fresh, vibrant leaves, rebounding after its heat-shocked transition to my Texas garden.
Berry Box™ (pictured left) and Juke Box®, xPyracomeles sp., cross-bred Pyracantha and Osteomeles shrubs, sport diminutive leaves, soft and full of sheen, smooth edged on Berry Box™ and slightly serrated on Juke Box®. You guessed it: Berry Box™ shows its Pyracantha heritage with a shower of clustered white flowers in spring, followed by bright red berries through the fall and winter. Vivid, ornamental berries give a much different look than typical boxwood, though its habit will not require much “boxing.” Perfect for a container or accent spot.
Juke Box® (pictured right) grows 1 to 3 feet tall with tiny leaves, growing thickly and glossy, an award-winning water-wise shrub for edging garden beds.
Back to Boxwood
Buxus sempervirens ‘longifolia’ is most likely the Bible’s boxwood or box tree—as the shrub can grow to the height of a small tree—mentioned in the prophetic procession of evergreens that the Lord will plant to signify His steadfast work:
“I’ll put cedar trees in the wilderness, along with acacia, myrtle, and olive trees. I’ll plant cypresses in the desert—box trees, and pine trees together—all so that people may see and recognize, perceive, consider, and comprehend at the same time, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and that the Holy One of Israel has created it.” Isaiah 41:19-20 ISV
Though this boxwood passage does not reference the Feast of Tabernacles outright, the verses preceding reiterate the work of God, His heartfelt desire and unstoppable move to pour out His Spirit and flood our souls, overcoming all that the devil has dried up in us, reestablishing us as perpetual springs, surrounded in a sanctuary of trees, much like the festival’s temporary shelters or booths decked in boughs represent. This evergreen tree parade expresses His revitalizing transformation, barren land to lush forest, barren souls to happily vibrant, moving through temporary to eternal.
I, Yahweh, will respond to the cry of the poor and the needy when they are thirsty and their tongues are parched with thirst! When they seek a drink of water but there is none, I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them. I will open up refreshing streams on the barren hills and springing fountains in the valleys. I will make the desert a pleasant pool and the dry land springs of water. Isaiah 41:17-18 TPT
All who come to Him, especially those with nothing left, thirsting and destitute, will be splashed in His quenching touch. He works by hand to create an oasis, an ever-flowing existence: Refreshed! From parched to pleasantly soothed and filled, surrounded and sheltered. Consider this and let your mind fill with this imagery—glossy brightness of boxwood boughs—as your mind’s ear hears Jesus’ Words from His appearance at the Tabernacles celebration:
Now on the last day of the festival, Hoshana Rabbah, Yeshua stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking! Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!” John 7:37-38 CJB
May this resounding symphony of flowing water and evergreen growth bless you in the garden this week!
Closing Prayer
O Father, You are evergreen! Your love is forever and Your care and attention for us is everlasting. Beyond our life on earth, a place at Your table awaits, where pure embrace and great joys abound. Thank You, Jesus, for being the way that each of us is ushered to the Father’s table. Whether we actually sit together and supper, or “feast” is a metaphor for fabulously living in Your nourishing and quenching Presence, let this enriching promise be the backdrop to everything I do. May Your kingdom ways prevail in my mind and heart and livelihood, my coming and going, and my company with family, friends, and neighbors. Show me how to cultivate Your sheltering Presence among the many beautiful plants in my garden and then let’s take garden life with me wherever I go. The world needs You, Lord! Let me be Your splashing refreshment, flowing from all that You pour into me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. Psalm 118:25-27 NIV
Huge thank yous to Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs for supplying the plants and information for this article, and for their tremendous support of GardenComm, Garden Communicators International. Read more about their sponsorship in “Glimpsing Bible Plants in Grand Rapids,” a conference near their headquarters last year.
Do you enjoy connecting your garden work to God’s Word? My Father is the Gardener is a devotional book for you!
God’s Word for Gardeners Bible digs into Isaiah’s evergreen landscape in the Bible in a Cedars of Lebanon series of devotions, from the Garden Tour section beginning on page a-17
Learn more about growing boxwood in the Plant Guide, including a link to all boxwood blogs
Photo Credits: ©2025 Shelley S. Cramm unless otherwise credited
CJB notes Scripture quotations taken from the Complete Jewish Bible by David H. Stern. Copyright © 1998. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Messianic Jewish Publishers, 6120 Day Long Lane, Clarksville, MD 21029. www.messianicjewish.net.
ISV denotes Scripture quotations from The Holy Bible: International Standard Version. Release 2.0, Build 2015.02.09. Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
NIV denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®
TPT denotes Scripture quotations taken from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com
VOICE denotes Scripture quotations taken from The Voice™. Copyright © 2012 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
