Overview

Buxus is a bushy shrubs in the genus Buxus, part of the Buxaceae family, with evergreen foliage. Buxus grows best in full sun, partial shade and full shade, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H6. Suggested uses include city and courtyard gardens, cottage and informal garden, wildlife gardens, patio and container plants and hedging and screens. It is native to Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Assam, Austria, Bahamas, Baleares, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Borneo, Cape Provinces, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Colombia, Comoros, Corse, Cuba, Djibouti, DR Congo, East Himalaya, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Hainan, Haiti, Iran, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, KwaZulu-Natal, Laos, Lebanon-Syria, Leeward Is., Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Morocco, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, North Caucasus, Northern Provinces, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Panamá, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Sardegna, Sierra Leone, Socotra, Somalia, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Turks-Caicos Is., Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Himalaya and Windward Is..

About

Buxus is an evergreen shrub genus with a compact, well-branched habit that suits close clipping and screens. Its small, leathery leaves remain year-round and the plant produces inconspicuous yellow‑green flowers in March to April. It tolerates a wide range of light from full sun to full shade and grows in many soil types. In UK terms it is rated H6, very hardy.

About the genus

Buxus is a genus of about seventy species in the family Buxaceae. Common names include box and boxwood.

Wikipedia contributors, "Buxus", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Buxus

In the garden

Buxus comprises evergreen shrubs native across Europe, Asia, Africa and parts of the Americas and islands, often occupying sheltered corners and cultivated sites. In the garden it is recognised for its dense, well-branched growth which takes shaping well; the tiny yellow‑green flowers appear in March to April and are easy to miss against the foliage. For culture, choose a position in full sun, partial shade or full shade depending on how strong you want new growth to be; it is tolerant of east‑, south‑, north‑ and west‑facing aspects. Soils from chalk and sand to clay and loam are acceptable provided they are well drained or moist but well drained, and it copes with acid, neutral or alkaline pH. Exposure can be exposed or sheltered; the hardiness rating H6 means most established plants withstand normal UK winters. Buxus is commonly used for hedging, formal or informal beds, courtyard and container planting, and for wildlife gardens where an evergreen screen is required. Because it retains foliage year round and responds to clipping, place it where you can access it for shaping; prune after the March–April flowering period so new spring shoots are retained and structure is maintained.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Buxus

Sunlight

Full sun, Partial shade, Full shade

Soil type

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Aspect

East-facing, South-facing, North-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness

H6

Plant details

Buxus size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Shrubs

Habit

Bushy

Foliage

Evergreen

Suggested uses

City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens, Patio and container plants, Hedging and screens

Native to

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Assam, Austria, Bahamas, Baleares, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Borneo, Cape Provinces, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Colombia, Comoros, Corse, Cuba, Djibouti, DR Congo, East Himalaya, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Hainan, Haiti, Iran, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, KwaZulu-Natal, Laos, Lebanon-Syria, Leeward Is., Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Morocco, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, North Caucasus, Northern Provinces, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Panamá, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Sardegna, Sierra Leone, Socotra, Somalia, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Turks-Caicos Is., Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Windward Is.

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Buxus

Propagation

Semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Pest resistance

Box tree caterpillar, Box sucker, Mussel scale, Red spider mite

Disease resistance

Leaf spot, Box blight, Honey fungus

Frequently asked questions