Replacing box bushes, with what?

[rainydogday]

I have two old and brown round box hedge shrubs either side of two steps leading from the patio to a lawn area. Can't stand them as they always look half dead. Looks like rust. Thinking of replacing them. I like the idea of something evergreen and leafy but compact. Other plants near them are summer perennials or roses. I have been looking at hebe shrubs or some kind of mini conifers. I like the idea of them looking 'matching' either side of the steps. Needs to be hardy.......and low maintenance!Any ideas greatly recieved.

Hebe is a good choice here, lovely flowers and pretty much indestructible. If you want a conifer be aware that 'dwarf' often just means 'slow growing' and you might find it outgrows its space in 10 years or so. If it's not blazing sun then what about a camellia? Or for spring scent what about Daphne or sarcocca (dull the rest of the year but you could grow a small clematis over it for a bit of interest).

Ilex Crenata. Looks like box, prunes like box, evergreen and doesn't get box blight.

Avoid dwarf conifers. I’d go with Hebes if it’s full sun, sarcococca if it’s shady.

Did you want to replicate the round shape of the box? Yew (Taxus baccata) can be clipped to form nice shapes and is evergreen.

Does it need to be small? I love olive trees and you can trim to a round ball /lollipop shade.

Or what about something unusual PHORMIUM 'PINK STRIPE' is great, I got one last weekend.

Sorry it’s a type of Palm.

I recently planted a hedge of photinia 'little red robin'. Compact, evergreen, red young leaves. Part of the rose family xx

Thank you for your ideas. I bought two different types of hebe and a Berberis. Looks much better now!