- Botanical name: Buxus sempervirens
- Common name: Common box
- Family: Buxaceae
- Plant Type: Shrub, Evergreen
Yellow
Green
- Key features:
- Dramatic foliage
Common box, Buxus sempervirens, is a vigorous, evergreen, bushy, upright shrub or small tree. It has small, rounded to oblong, glossy dark green leaves. Its dense habit makes it ideal for hedging or screening and it can be closely clipped into different shapes. It’s an excellent plant to make into topiary, as you can leave a smart finish after trimming.
Grow Buxus sempervirens in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Mulch annually with well-rotted manure or compost and trim into shape from mid- to late-summer.
Bear in mind that in many parts of the UK, box is prone to two serious problems – box blight and box tree caterpillar.
How to grow Buxus sempervirens
-
Plant size
5m height
5m spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Front, middle
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Acidic / chalky / alkaline / clay / heavy / moist / well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do not Plant in May |
J
Do not Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do Plant in October |
N
Do Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Take cuttings | ||||||||||||
| Take cuttings |
J
Do not Take cuttings in January |
F
Do not Take cuttings in February |
M
Do not Take cuttings in March |
A
Do Take cuttings in April |
M
Do Take cuttings in May |
J
Do Take cuttings in June |
J
Do Take cuttings in July |
A
Do not Take cuttings in August |
S
Do not Take cuttings in September |
O
Do not Take cuttings in October |
N
Do not Take cuttings in November |
D
Do not Take cuttings in December |
Buxus sempervirens and wildlife
Buxus sempervirens has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Buxus sempervirens poisonous?
Buxus sempervirens can be toxic.
Toxic to Cats
Toxic to Dogs
Toxic to Horses
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
