Boxwood (Buxus sempervierens)

Boxwood (common) is an evergreen plant that belongs to the family of buxaceae. The broad leaf evergreen plant is native to Southern Europe, western Asia and Northern Africa. It grows to a height of 5-15 feet and spreads to the same level.

The soil should be evenly moist, well drained and the ideal ones must be loams. The soils pH of slightly acidic to slightly alkaline is preferred. The plant is tolerant to pruning and shearing. When pruning it is good to do so early in spring in order to promote new growth that can get damaged when one prunes in late spring. This is why it is not advisable to do pruning to the last spring frost date.

The plant has shallow roots. This is one point to put into consideration when cultivating. Once you cultivate around the plant it might dry up. However, roots appreciate good organic mulch, probably from bark of a tree or compost.

You should remove thin and damaged branches once per year in order to improve air circulation. The winter winds are not very good for this plant because they can remove moisture from leaves and this can lead to dehydration of the plant. Removal of heavy snow accumulation minimizes stem damage.

The sun should be full or part shade. But in order for the plant to grow well, part shade situations are recommended where morning or afternoon sun is recommended. When grown in full sun you will discover that the foliage can scorch, bronze during winter or suffer from mite attacks.

Boxwood does not require special care apart from annual pruning. Diseases and pest are not a threat to this plant but there are a few that have been reported. They are boxwood leafminer, boxwood mite and boxwood psyllid. When soils are not well drained, root rot may be experienced.