Common box.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Evergreen shrub

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

15 to 20 feet

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 issues. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal poor drainage or nutrient deficiency. Regular trimming helps maintain the desired shape and encourages denser growth.

Watering

Water deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Feeding

Apply a balanced fertilizer once in early spring before new growth begins.

Pruning

Trim lightly in late spring or summer to maintain your preferred shape.

Repotting

Repot only when the roots have filled the container or the plant stops growing.

Soil

Well draining, fertile loam

Soil pH

6.5 to 7.5

Temperature

-20 to 35°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Drought tolerance

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial, can live for over 100 years.

Fragrance

Light

Deer and rabbits

High

Safety

People

The plant contains steroidal alkaloids that cause severe gastrointestinal distress if eaten.

Pets

This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.

Children

Keep this plant away from small children as the foliage is toxic if chewed or swallowed.

Contact allergens

The leaves and sap can cause mild skin irritation or dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

The pollen is considered a mild allergen for some people during the spring bloom.

Edibility

All parts of the boxwood plant are toxic if ingested and should never be consumed.

How to identify it

• Small, glossy, dark green leaves
• Opposite leaf arrangement on stems
• Dense, rounded growth habit
• Tiny, inconspicuous yellow flowers

Height

1.5 to 6m

Spread

1.5 to 4.5m

Leaves

dark green, evergreen

Flowers

yellow, green, 0.5 to 1cm

Fruit

brown, late summer

Problems to watch for

• Boxwood BlightCommon
• Leaf MinersCommon
• Leaf ScorchUncommon
• Root RotUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

cuttings, seed

When to plant

spring, autumn

Overwintering

In cold climates, ensure the soil is well mulched to protect roots from deep freezing. Avoid heavy pruning late in the season to prevent new growth from being damaged by frost.

In containers

Boxwood is excellent for containers, but ensure the pot is at least 40 cm wide to accommodate root growth.

Pair boxwood with plants that prefer similar soil pH levels to ensure healthy growth for all species.

Grows well with

• English Lavender — Provides a beautiful color contrast and thrives in similar soil conditions.
• Hosta — Complements the dark foliage of boxwood in shaded garden beds.

Similar species

• Japanese Boxwood — A smaller, more compact alternative with similar evergreen characteristics.

Science

Family

Buxaceae

Genus

Buxus

Order

Buxales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Western and southern Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia.

Conservation

Not currently of conservation concern.

It naturally occurs in rocky, calcareous soils and woodland understories where it persists in partial shade.

Value to wildlife

early season nectar source

Pollinators

bees

Uses

formal hedging, topiary, container gardening, structural garden element

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I grow boxwood in a pot?

Yes, they thrive in containers provided the pot has excellent drainage.

How often should I prune?

Prune once or twice a year to maintain the desired shape.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Buxus is the classical Latin name for the box tree, while sempervirens means always green, referring to its evergreen nature.

Good to know

• Boxwood wood is extremely dense and was historically used for wood engraving blocks.
• The plants can live for over a century if properly maintained.
• They are remarkably shade tolerant compared to many other evergreen shrubs.

Also in

• Plants toxic to cats and dogs
• Deer-resistant plants