GreenlyHow to grow Boxwood
Buxus sempervirens · common box, European box
Slow-growing evergreen shrub from southern Europe, North Africa and western Asia with small glossy leaves, the classic plant for clipped hedges, edging and topiary. Usually 1.5–4.5 m tall; its small greenish flowers in spring are hardly noticeable.
Quick facts
| Type | Shrub |
|---|---|
| Family | Buxaceae |
| Light | Partial shade |
| Soil pH | 6.8–7.5 |
| Frost | tolerates light frost |
| Where it grows | Open ground |
When to plant
Planted as a young plant from a nursery while it is dormant — in early spring before the buds open, or in autumn after leaf fall.
Care
Open ground
| Stage | Watering | Temperature | Feeding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | every 7 days | — | — |
| Flowering | every 7 days | — | — |
| Winter rest | — | — | — |
Growing notes
Light
Part shade is best, or morning sun with afternoon shade; in full sun leaves bronze in winter and scorch more easily.
Soil
Well-drained soil, pH 6.8–7.5; never plant it where water collects. The roots are shallow, so do not dig around the plant.
Care
Water thoroughly once a week when rain gives less than 2.5 cm, and water well before hard frosts. Keep 5–7 cm of organic mulch over the roots. Feed only if a soil test shows a need, in early spring. Thin the outer branches every year so light reaches the centre; shear in early summer, never before the last spring frost or after mid-August.
Pests and diseases of Boxwood
Sources
Figures checked against these sources.