Differences between Boxwood and Holly

1. Differences between branches and trunks

The branches of boxwood are cylindrical and grayish white in color. The smaller branches are quadrangular, with short soft hairs all over or no hair on the two opposite sides. The branches of holly are also cylindrical in shape, the twigs are light green in color and are hairless.

2. Difference of blades

Boxwood leaves are leathery, opposite, broadly elliptical, ovate-elliptical, broadly obovate or oblong, with a rounded or obtuse tip, often with a small notch, not sharp, a rounded, acute or cuneate base, and often with fine hairs in the lower half. Most holly leaves are simple and arranged alternately, and rarely are arranged oppositely. They are leathery, membranous or papery. It is elliptical, oblong, ovate or lanceolate, with acuminate tip, cuneate or obtuse base, and sometimes serrate young leaves.