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Buxus sempervirens /ˈbʊk.sʊs sɛmˈpɛr.wɪ.rẽːs/

Common name: Common boxwood · Common box · European box

Buxus sempervirens is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia. It has small, glossy, leathery dark-green leaves and a dense, slow-growing habit. Long prized for hedging and topiary, it is one of the most widely planted ornamental shrubs in temperate gardens.

Fun facts

  • Boxwood has been used in European gardens since Roman times for clipped hedges and topiary.
  • Its extremely fine, dense wood is traditionally used for engraving blocks, chess pieces, and musical instruments.
  • The species is threatened in gardens by the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis), an invasive pest from East Asia.
  • All parts of the plant contain alkaloids and are poisonous if ingested.

Care summary

Sun Full sun to partial shade
Water Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
Soil Well-drained, slightly alkaline to neutral
Hardiness Zones 5–8
Mature height About 100–500 cm (3–16 ft)
Pet safe No; toxic to cats, dogs, and horses
Difficulty Moderate
Propagation Propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings taken in late summer or early autumn. Take 10 cm cuttings from non-flowering shoots, strip the lower leaves, and root them in moist, free-draining mix under cover; rooting usually takes 6-10 weeks.

Make your own Common boxwood · Common box · European box profile

Common problems

    • Prune out and bag infected growth
    • Sanitize tools between every plant
    • Space plants for better air circulation
    • Inspect hedges regularly for webbing
    • Handpick green caterpillars on sight
    • Apply Bt spray during active feeding
    • Plant in free-draining amended soil
    • Avoid overwatering established hedges
    • Remove severely declining plants entirely