Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Boxwood.
Buxus
Pronounced BUK-sus sem-per-VY-renz
Also known as Boxwood, box, boxwood, boxes, boxwoods
Boxwoods are classic evergreen shrubs known for their dense foliage and ability to be shaped into formal hedges. They provide structure to gardens throughout the year. These slow growing plants are staples in traditional landscape design.
At a glance
- Care level
- Moderate
- Plant type
- Evergreen shrub
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Indoor light
- bright-indirect
- Water
- Every 5 to 10 days
- Mature size
- 3 to 6 meters
- Growth rate
- slow
- Hardiness
- USDA 5 to 9
- Bloom time
- Early to mid spring
Care
Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to prevent root rot. Watch for signs of boxwood blight like leaf spots or branch dieback. Prune lightly to maintain shape and encourage dense growth.
- Watering
- Water deeply when the top few centimeters of soil feel dry.
- Feeding
- Apply a balanced fertilizer once in early spring.
- Pruning
- Prune in late spring after the danger of frost has passed.
- Repotting
- Repot only when the plant becomes root bound.
- Soil
- Well-draining, loamy soil
- Soil pH
- 6.5 to 7.5
- Temperature
- -20 to 35°C
- Humidity
- 40 to 60%
Safety
- Pets
- Boxwood is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
How to identify it
- Small, oval, glossy dark green leaves
- Opposite leaf arrangement on stems
- Dense, compact, multi-stemmed growth habit
- Small, inconspicuous yellow green flowers
- Height
- 1 to 6m
- Spread
- 1 to 4m
- Leaves
- dark green, evergreen
- Flowers
- yellow, green, 0.5 to 1cm
Growing it
- Propagation
- cuttings
- When to plant
- spring, autumn
Science
- Family
- Buxaceae
- Genus
- Buxus
- Order
- Buxales
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
Through the year
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Is your boxwood looking unwell?
This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.
This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.