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.
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.
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.