Side-by-side plant comparison — which is right for your garden?
Buxus sempervirens
Buxaceae · shrubs
Iris germanica
Iridaceae · flowers
Boxwood (Zones 5-8)
Iris (Zones 3-9)
Overlap: Both grow in zones 5–8
| Feature | Boxwood | Iris |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Buxus sempervirens | Iris germanica |
| Family | Buxaceae | Iridaceae |
| Category | shrubs | flowers |
| Sun | ☀️ Part Shade to Full Sun | ☀️ Full Sun |
| Water | 💧💧 Medium | 💧 Low to Medium |
| Soil | Well-drained | Well-drained |
| Height | 8' | 3' |
| Spread | 8' | 1' 6" |
| Bloom Season | Spring | Spring |
| Bloom Color | Green | Purple, Blue, Yellow, White |
| Growth Rate | Slow | Medium |
| Native Region | Europe, Asia, Africa | Mediterranean, Europe |
| Maintenance | Medium | Low |
Boxwood
Iris
Boxwood
Iris
Choose Boxwood if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in part shade to full sun with medium water in zones 5–8.
Choose Iris if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with low to medium water in zones 3–9.
Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 5–8. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.
Explore More Data Tools
For adjacent public-data tools, methodology notes, and network updates, visit DataPeek Facts.