Common Boxwood Buxus sempervirens
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- BUK-sus sem-per-VEE-renz
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
American boxwood, or common box, is a broadly rounded, multi-branched, evergreen shrub or small tree in the Buxaceae (boxwood) family. It is native to western and southern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. The species-specific epithet sempervirens means always green.
Boxwood is considered a low-maintenance plant. It is shallow rooted and adapts to a wide range of light and soil conditions. Although it can grow slowly up to 15 to 20 feet tall at maturity, it can be kept much shorter through pruning. While it grows a bit faster and is less troubled by insects than B. microphylla, it is not quite as heat tolerant.
It is best not to plant too deeply and prefers well-drained soil. A few inches of mulch will protect the shallow roots from getting dry and hot. Protect from winds and full winter sun by placing in a location where these conditions are limited, as they can cause dehydration and bronzing. Remove any accumulated snow to protect the branches. Thinning plants annually will assist with light and air circulation.
The young stems of this plant are square in cross section and this feature may have contributed to its common name. The dense foliage has leaves that are a glossy dark green on top with a yellow green underside, and some find it to be malodorous.
Boxwood may be used as a vertical accent plant, in mixed beds, as topiary, or to form a narrow hedge. Being evergreen, it provides winter interest in the garden.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are opposite, apex acute to obtuse
- Stems are square and winged with decurrent petioles
- Leaves have white pubescence along midrib below
- Leaves are about 1 inch long and half as wide
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The plant is susceptible to boxwood blight and leaf spot diseases. Insect pests include leafminer, boxwood mite, and boxwood psyllid.
For suitable alternatives, see this video created by Charlotte Glen as part of the Plants, Pests, and Pathogens series.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Susanna Wesley Garden, Lake Junaluska Lake Wall Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Angustifolia'
Larges leaves, tree like habit
'Arborescens'
- 'Dee Runk'
Narrow, conical form; up to 8' tall 2.5' wide
'Elegantissima'
- 'Fastigiata'
Conical form; up to 8' tall and 3' wide - 'Highlander'
Fast growing upright conical form
'Suffruticosa'
Lustrous dark green leaves 'Aureovariegata'
Variegated leaves
Upright oval form; white leaf margins; 2.5' tall
Dense, compact, slow growing, leaves fragrant, considered to be least tolerant to box leaf miners. 'Vardar Valley'
Bluish hue leaves, 2'-3' tall; resistant to leafminer - 'Angustifolia'
- 'Angustifolia', 'Arborescens', 'Aureovariegata', 'Dee Runk', 'Elegantissima', 'Fastigiata', 'Highlander', 'Suffruticosa', 'Vardar Valley'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Angustifolia'
Larges leaves, tree like habit
'Arborescens'
- 'Dee Runk'
Narrow, conical form; up to 8' tall 2.5' wide
'Elegantissima'
- 'Fastigiata'
Conical form; up to 8' tall and 3' wide - 'Highlander'
Fast growing upright conical form
'Suffruticosa'
Lustrous dark green leaves 'Aureovariegata'
Variegated leaves
Upright oval form; white leaf margins; 2.5' tall
Dense, compact, slow growing, leaves fragrant, considered to be least tolerant to box leaf miners. 'Vardar Valley'
Bluish hue leaves, 2'-3' tall; resistant to leafminer - 'Angustifolia'
- 'Angustifolia', 'Arborescens', 'Aureovariegata', 'Dee Runk', 'Elegantissima', 'Fastigiata', 'Highlander', 'Suffruticosa', 'Vardar Valley'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Buxus
- Species:
- sempervirens
- Family:
- Buxaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to N. Iran, N. Africa
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Drought
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Globose, 1/3 inch dehiscent capsule that matures to brown.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Non-showy, creamy yellow flowers in spring; fragrant. Apetalous (no petals).
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Orange
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Opposite, simple, lustrous, light blue to blue-gray leaves; 0.5-1.5 in. long; light green to yellowish-green below; may develop an orange-green cast in winter. Salt spray in winter worsens foliage discoloration. Typically elliptic or ovate to oblong and twice as broad as long, rounded or notched apex; petiole fused to stem (decurrent) with white cottony midrib below.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Description:
- New stems green, mature to brown, square shape.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Lawn
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Malodorous
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
