About
Buxus balearica is a robust, upright evergreen shrub or small tree that can reach a height of up to 3 meters. It features leathery, glossy leaves that are bright green and measure up to 4 centimeters in length. In the spring, it produces small clusters of yellowish flowers.
About the genus
Buxus consists of evergreen shrubs or diminutive trees characterized by simple, leathery leaves arranged oppositely. These plants produce clusters of small, pale yellow blooms, which are succeeded by fruits that transition from pale green to brown.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
- Native to
- Balearic Islands & SW Spain
- Toxicity
- Pets (dogs): Harmful if eaten For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grows best in well-drained soil in partial shade; can be scorched by sun and strong winds in dry soils. Susceptible to a number of box problems, see box cultivation
- Pruning
- Pruning group 8 in summer, renovation pruning can be carried out in late spring. Use mulch and a general fertiliser after hard pruning
- Propagation
- Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in summer
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to box tree caterpillar, box sucker, mussel scale and red spider mite
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to a leaf spot, box blight and, rarely, honey fungus