Buxus Sempervirens - Common Box

Buxus sempervirens, commonly known as Common Box, is a dense, slow-growing native evergreen valued for its compact habit, small glossy dark green leaves, and versatility in formal and naturalistic planting schemes. Often seen as a neatly clipped hedge or shaped into topiary, Common Box can also grow freely in woodlands as a small native tree. Its evergreen nature provides year-round structure and greenery, making it one of the few broad-leaved evergreens native to Britain and highly prized in gardens, parks, and landscaping projects.

Common Box is highly adaptable, thriving in well-drained soils, including acid sands and limestone, and tolerates shaded positions. Its small, ovate, strongly scented leaves and rough greyish bark provide ornamental interest throughout the year. The plant produces small creamy-yellow flowers in April, followed by horned seed capsules that mature and fall in September. Its wood is extremely hard and dense, historically used for engraving blocks, precision instruments, marquetry, cabinet making, and wood-turning. In addition, Box has been used medicinally and for hair treatments.

This is the size and type we sell: Buxus sempervirens Common Box 10–20cm Cell Grown, professionally grown for hedging, topiary, specimen planting, and woodland projects. Its compact habit and disease resistance make it an ideal replacement for Buxus suffruticosa in formal plantings affected by Box Blight.

Features & Benefits

Dense, evergreen native with small glossy dark green leaves

Suitable for formal hedges, topiary, woodland, or specimen planting

Thrives in well-drained soils, including acid and limestone

Tolerant of shade and urban conditions

Hardy and resilient, able to withstand severe pruning

Hard, dense wood used for carving, marquetry, and precision instruments

Flowers provide pollen for insects; shelters birds

Applications

Formal hedging and topiary planting

Woodland and naturalistic landscaping

Specimen tree or small shrub planting

Replacement for Buxus suffruticosa in formal gardens

Parks, estates, and council planting schemes

Wildlife-friendly evergreen planting

Height & Spread (Approximate)

After 10 years: 2m height x 1m spread

After 20 years: 3m height x 2m spread

Growth assumes suitable site conditions.

Botanical Name | Buxus sempervirens

Common Name | Common Box

Plant Type | Evergreen native shrub/tree

Growth Rate | Slow

Mature Height | Up to 3m+

Mature Spread | Up to 2m

Soil Type | Well-drained soils, including acid and limestone

Aspect | Full sun to partial shade

Hardiness | Fully hardy in the UK

Plant Size & Type | 10–20cm Cell Grown

Maintenance | Hedge/topiary trimming June; severe pruning in spring

Wildlife Value | Pollen for insects; shelter and roosting for birds