Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Boxwood Beauty Natal Plum
Boxwood Beauty is a compact, nearly thornless natal plum with glossy dark green leaves, fragrant white star-shaped flowers, and edible red fruit. In Arizona it stays about 1 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 5 feet wide, so it edges walks, entries, and driveways without much trimming. It is drought tolerant once established and looks its best with deep summer water.
Best for: low borders and edging, entries and foundation beds, and anyone who wants a boxwood look that handles desert heat.
Its dense, glossy growth edges walks, beds and driveways with a neat line. It grows slowly to moderately, so it takes little trimming to keep it low.
It has almost none of the spines that standard natal plum carries, so it fits right along front walks and entryways.
It gives the formal, fine-leaved look of a boxwood hedge on a plant that handles Phoenix heat. Fragrant white flowers and occasional red fruit are a bonus.
Heat stress shows above about 113°F, and branches can die back in 118°F spells. Foliage is injured in the mid to upper 20s. In poorly drained or overwatered alkaline soil, new leaves yellow and roots can rot. It thins out in full shade.
- Low hedge3 ft apart, center to center
- Edging along a walk or drive3 ft apart, center to center
Water a new plant every 1 to 2 days in summer for the first two weeks. Then stretch to about weekly in summer and every 10 to 14 days in cooler months by week 8. Once rooted, water deeply and regularly in summer, far less in winter, and let the upper soil dry between soaks.
Leaves yellow when alkaline soil stays wet, and poor drainage can rot the roots. Let the soil dry between waterings.
Leaves can be injured in the mid to upper 20s. Cover young plants with frost cloth on freezing nights.
Dwarf forms need little pruning. An occasional light trim keeps it neat. Wear gloves, since the milky sap can irritate skin.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Boxwood Beauty get?
It grows about 1 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 5 feet wide in Arizona. It grows slowly to moderately, so it holds a low border size with little trimming.
Does Boxwood Beauty have thorns?
It has very few thorns. Standard natal plum has forked spines at the stems, but Boxwood Beauty is a nearly thornless selection, which is why it is used along walkways and entries. Wear gloves when pruning anyway, since the white sap is sticky and can irritate skin for some people.
Is it safe for dogs and cats?
Natal plum is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. The milky sap can irritate skin for some people.
Is the fruit edible?
Yes, once it is fully ripe and red. It tastes sweet-tart, similar to cranberry, and is good in jams, jellies, and sauces. Unripe fruit oozes an astringent white latex, so wait for full color, and expect lighter fruiting on this compact form than on standard natal plum.
How much sun does it need in Phoenix?
Sun is best, and it grows sparse in full shade. It handles full Phoenix sun, though a little shade on the hottest summer afternoons helps prevent leaf scorch.
How often should I water it?
Water a new plant every 1 to 2 days in summer for the first two weeks. Then stretch to about weekly in summer and every 10 to 14 days in cooler months by week 8. Once established it is quite drought tolerant, but it looks best with deep, regular watering in summer and far less in winter.
Why are my Boxwood Beauty leaves turning red in winter?
That is chilling injury from cold nights. The reddish purple leaves re-green on their own in early spring, so no treatment is needed.
Why are the leaves turning yellow?
Yellowing on the newer leaves usually shows up when alkaline soil stays too wet. Water less often and make sure the bed drains. Slow-growing forms like this one can also get root rot in poorly drained soil.
Is it frost hardy?
Foliage is injured in the mid to upper 20s, and the plant is rated hardy to about 26°F. Young plants are the most vulnerable, so cover them with frost cloth on the coldest nights.
Does it need pruning?
It needs very little pruning. Dwarf natal plums hold their shape on their own. An occasional light trim keeps it dense and removes any dead or frost-damaged stems.
How far apart should I plant it for a low hedge?
Plant them about 3 feet apart, center to center. The plants meet as they spread to 3 to 4 feet, and the Spacing tab counts plants for your run.
How is it different from regular natal plum?
Natal plum varieties range from 18-inch groundcovers to 10-foot shrubs, and most carry sharp forked spines. Boxwood Beauty is a compact, mounding form that stays low and is nearly thornless.
Boxwood Beauty Natal Plum for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Boxwood Beauty is a compact, nearly thornless natal plum used across Phoenix for low borders, entries and foundation beds. It gives the tidy look of boxwood, with fragrant white flowers and edible red fruit. This page answers the questions Arizona gardeners ask most about it.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
How big does Boxwood Beauty get in Arizona?
Expect about 1 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 5 feet wide. It grows slowly to moderately, so it holds a low border without constant shearing.
Does Boxwood Beauty have thorns?
It has very few thorns. Standard natal plum carries forked spines at the stems, but Boxwood Beauty is a nearly thornless selection, which is why it is planted along walkways and entries.
How often do you water Boxwood Beauty in Phoenix?
Water it deeply once or twice a week the first year. Once established it is quite drought tolerant, but deep, regular summer watering and much less in winter keep it at its best.
Does Boxwood Beauty need sun or shade?
It does best in sun, and full shade leaves it sparse. In the hottest stretch of summer, a little afternoon shade helps prevent leaf scorch.
Why do Boxwood Beauty leaves turn red in winter?
Leaves can turn reddish purple after cold nights and re-green on their own in early spring. Foliage is injured in the mid to upper 20s, so cover young plants with frost cloth on the coldest nights.
Is natal plum fruit edible?
Yes, when it is fully ripe and red. It tastes sweet-tart, a lot like cranberry, and works in jams, jellies and sauces. This compact form sets less fruit than standard natal plum.
Is Boxwood Beauty safe for pets?
Natal plum is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The white sap can irritate skin for some people, so wear gloves when pruning.
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