Box (Buxus) is most commonly planted in gardens as a clipped, formal plant or a hedge, although there are many types available that are ideal for more naturalistic planting.
Cultivation notes
Box is tolerant of a wide range of soil types, provided there is adequate drainage and it does not dry out completely. A reliably moist soil is especially important if growing in full sun, otherwise the foliage may scorch. Box will tolerate deep shade and is ideal for planting beneath taller trees.
Planting in the garden
On poorer soils, spread organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or garden compost, 5cm (2in) deep over the prepared area and fork in.
Plant common box, Buxus sempervirens about 30-40cm (1ft-16in) apart. More compact cultivars, such as ‘Suffruticosa’ and Buxus microphylla, can be planted 10-15cm (4-6in) apart.
Do not allow young plants to dry out. Check regularly and water to keep the soil moist. Once established, apply a general-purpose fertiliser at 70g per sq m (2oz per sq yd) in spring and mulch to a depth of 5cm (2in).
If well cared for, small plants should form a reasonable hedge or parterre within three to five years.
Planting in containers
Box can be successfully grown in containers, and is often clipped into formal topiary shapes.
Select a container at least 45cm (18in) in diameter and use a loam-based compost, such as John Innes No 3. Make sure plants never dry out, even in winter.
Apply a liquid feed during summer. Topdress established container-grown plants in spring with fresh compost and a little slow-release fertiliser, such as Vitax Q4 or blood, fish and bone.
Pruning and training
Cut back young hedge plants and topiary by up to one-third in May to encourage bushy growth. Further trimming can be carried out between May and August, as required.
Trim mature hedges and topiary twice during the summer, with the first cut in about late May and the final cut before the end of August.
Old, neglected plants usually respond well to hard pruning in late spring (May) and can be cut back to within 15-30cm (6in-1ft) of the ground.
Propagation
Box can be easily propagated by taking semi-ripe cuttings. Cuttings will root in the open ground if the soil is moist and there is some shade. More reliable results come from placing cuttings in a cold frame or similar environment. A heated propagator will speed the rooting process, and you should see roots after eight weeks, as opposed to up to eight months without heat.
Cultivar Selection
Several forms of box are available to gardeners, some viewable in the RHS Plant Selector.
Problems
Excessive sunlight can cause discoloration and sun-scald to leaves. General bronzing or an orange coloration of the foliage is also due to environmental stress usually following hot, dry spells in summer, although a contributing factor may be root damage due to winter waterlogging.
Over winter, leaf tips and margins commonly yellow due to low temperatures. Leaf discoloration will tend to be more common in exposed sites. Young growth in spring can also get caught by frost, turning them pale brown and often papery-looking. An application of fertiliser in spring to encourage fresh new growth, along with clipping, usually rectifies these problems.
General yellowing of foliage may be symptomatic of waterlogging, especially on heavy clay soils. Roots subjected to waterlogging are usually a blue-black colour in cross section and fall apart when teased out. Damaged roots should be removed, top growth trimmed back and the box replanted.
Box may sometimes suffer from the following problems: box blight, box sucker, box tree caterpillar, plant establishment problems, red spider mite and scale insects. If in doubt, our page on box problems is a good place to start.
Quick facts
Common name Box
Botanical name Buxus sempervirens, B. microphylla, B. harlandii
Group Shrub, Hedge
Planting time Autumn or spring
Height and spread Up to 5m by 5m (17ft by 17ft), but can be kept smaller
Aspect Sun or shade
Hardiness Fully hardy
Difficulty Easy