March's
Plant of the Month

Buxus sempervirens
Common Boxwood
boxwood1.jpg (15116 bytes)


boxwood2.jpg (7561 bytes)      One of the most useful garden plants, the common boxwood has been used for centuries in gardens throughout the world. Left on it's own, it becomes dense and full and the branches arch gracefully to form a large mound of dark green foliage. As a hedge plant it has few competitors, since it responds well to pruning. It has no special cultural requirements, but scale, leaf miner, and psyllid may cause problems. It grows somewhat faster than B. microphylla (Little Leaf Boxwood) but is not has hardy. Foliage will be severely damaged at temps below -15°f
  Size: Can reach 15-20 feet, but is easily maintained at 5 feet or less.

Leaves: Evergreen, opposite, simple and ovate 1/2 - 1" long, usually very lustrous(shiny) very short petiole(leaf stalk).

Culture: Somewhat adaptable, full sun or light shade (in the south). Must have well drained soil. Mulch heavily to keep root mass relatively cool.  Plant in a site that will offer protection from harsh winter winds.

Utilization: Hedges, foundation planting, formal gardens

Propagation: . Cuttings taken anytime during growing season. Use a perlite/peat mix, mist often or use top of 2 liter (with black bottom cut off) as a mini green house. Rooting Hormones will increase success.  More info on propagation.

Disease and Insects: Canker, root rot, winter injury or sun scald, mealy bugs, scale boxwood webworm and boxwood mite. An off color in the foliage is almost always a sign of poor drainage, although do not rule out chlorosis.

Climate Range: Hardy from Zone 5-6, some cultivars can go down to Zone 8. See Map.

Cultivars: There are numerous cultivars that all very little in appearance.

  • 'Argenteo-variegata' - Green and white variegated leaf
  • ' Aureo-variegata' - Green and yellow variegated leaf
  • ' Vardar Valley'-  low growing, not cold tolerant past -5° f.
  • 'Suffruticosa'  - Dense, compact and slow growing. Considered the standard of boxwoods, .

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