Oregon Boxwood

Paxistima myrsinites (Celastraceae) is a low, dense evergreen shrub native to western North America from British Columbia to California. It forms a compact mound of small, glossy, dark green leaves with minutely toothed margins. Tiny, inconspicuous reddish-brown flowers appear in spring.

Oregon boxwood thrives in part shade to shade on moist, well-drained soil. It is useful as a low hedge, edging, or woodland groundcover. Four diseases and three pests are documented. The compact, fine-textured habit resembles true boxwood but with greater shade tolerance. Hardy in Zones 5a to 8b.