Boxwood
Buxus sempervirens
Other names: Common box, European box
Boxwood is a dense, small-leaved evergreen shrub used for clipped hedges, edging and topiary. It grows slowly, holds a sharp outline with one or two trims a year, and gives a garden structure in every season. Deer usually leave it alone.
How to grow boxwood
Light
It grows in full sun to part shade. Light afternoon shade and shelter from winter wind prevent the bronzing that affects exposed plants.
Watering
Water deeply once a week for the first two years. Established plants need water in dry spells and before the ground freezes in late fall.
Soil and feeding
Boxwood has shallow roots. Plant with the top of the root ball slightly above soil level and mulch 2 in (5 cm) deep. It dislikes waterlogged ground. Feed in spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.
Planting and pruning
Shear hedges and shapes in late spring after the first flush of growth has firmed up. A light second trim in midsummer is optional. Avoid cutting in late summer and fall. Thin the interior by hand every year or two to let in air and light.
Propagation
Take 4 in (10 cm) semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer to early fall and root them in a shaded cold frame.
Common problems
- Dark leaf spots, black streaks on stems and rapid leaf drop
- Boxwood blight, a serious fungal disease. Bag and remove affected plants, disinfect tools and replant with resistant varieties.
- Green caterpillars and webbing inside the shrub
- Box tree moth. Inspect plants in spring and treat early with Bacillus thuringiensis.
- Orange or bronze foliage in winter
- Wind and sun exposure. Plants usually green up in spring. Water in fall and shield exposed plants with burlap.
Questions about boxwood
How fast does boxwood grow?
Slowly. Most varieties add 3 to 6 in (8–15 cm) a year. Dwarf English boxwood grows only about 1 in (2.5 cm) a year.
Can boxwood grow in containers?
Yes. Use a pot wider than the root ball, water regularly, and protect the roots from hard freezes.
Plant details
| Botanical name | Buxus sempervirens |
|---|---|
| Family | Buxaceae |
| Native range | Southern Europe, North Africa and western Asia |
| Plant type | Trees and Shrubs. Evergreen shrub |
| Soil | Evenly moist, well-drained loam |
- Evergreen
- Deer resistant
- Grows in containers
- Tolerates shade
