is buxus a shrub

Is Buxus poisonous?

This plant has low severity poison characteristics. Buxus is the Latin name for boxwood or box tree. Boxwoods, originally from Europe and Asia, are evergreen shrubs. They are one of the oldest known garden plants dating back to 4000 BC.

What is a Buxus bonsai?

Buxus, or Boxwood, is one of the most appealing shrubs on the market with a wide range of uses in the landscape. Boxwood bush types may be used as bonsai, container plants, hedges, topiary, and single specimen spectacles.

Is Buxus sempervirens boxwood?

Naturally architectural, Buxus sempervirens 'Dee Runk' (Boxwood) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub of elegant columnar habit with a soft and lush foliage of ovate, lustrous leaves. Its deep green foliage has shown good resistance to boxwood blight.

What are the different types of Buxus shrubs?

Buxus Varieties for Unique Situations. Mounding and dwarf types of boxwood are comfortable shrubs for instant greenery and fill in around perennials with practiced evergreen ease. Green Pillow is a low mounding form that gets just over a foot tall with a 3-foot spread.

Is a boxwood considered a shrub?

One of the most versatile shrubs, boxwoods bring year-round color to the garden. Their evergreen foliage brightens dreary winter landscapes, provides structure to both formal and informal gardens, and can be shaped into tightly clipped geometric forms or whimsical shapes.

Is Buxus a tree?

Common box, Buxus sempervirens, is a vigorous, evergreen, bushy, upright shrub or small tree. It has small, rounded to oblong, glossy dark green leaves. Its dense habit makes it ideal for hedging or screening and it can be closely clipped into different shapes.

What are the box bushes called?

American Boxwoods (B. sempervirens) , often called Common Boxwood, is a perfect all-around group of plants that continue growing for up to 100 years. Some varieties can get quite large if not cared for, but most are tall and can easily be shaped into rounded or upright form: North Star (B.

Are Buxus and boxwood the same?

Boxwood (Buxus) has been grown in the United States since the mid-17th century, when the first plants were brought to New York from Europe to plant in the gardens of well-to-do and well-established colonists. There are now approximately 150 boxwood cultivars and species that are available to home gardeners.

How do I stop my Buxus going brown?

The Boxwood canopy inside becomes humid due to the high number of branches inside the plant. Therefore, we'd recommend you trim the interior of the branches in early spring to ensure a successful year of growth. This lets the air reach the interior of the plant and can help revive Buxus plants if they're dying.

How tall do Buxus grow?

between 1 and 8 metres tallBuxus sempervirens is a slow growing evergreen shrub or small tree, growing between 1 and 8 metres tall. The small (1.5 to 3cm long) green to yellow leathery dark to blackish green leaves depending on the season have a pungent smell, and are oval in shape but can differ depending on the variant.

Which is the best boxwood shrub?

The first is Japanese Boxwood, Buxus microphylla, which is usually available in dwarf forms, growing slowly to just a few feet in height. It is also known as littleleaf boxwood, and it is the most reliable form for hot areas, growing well in zones 9 and 10, although it is also hardy to zone 6.

Is Bush a shrub?

Bush and shrub are sometimes meant the same as both are trees that are small enough that it touches the ground. Generally, bush is a technical term for shrubs. Bush is thickets of small trees or a tree that is small enough to be considered a tree.

When should you plant boxwood shrubs?

When to Plant Boxwoods. Shrub planting is best done in spring or summer so that it can get well established before winter. Spring is best because while a new planting is becoming acclimated to its new environment, extreme weather conditions like heat or drought can cause undue stress.

What is the largest boxwood shrub?

American Boxwood Shrub Buxus sempervirensAmerican Boxwood is similar to English but unpruned is the largest boxwood.

What is the smallest boxwood shrub?

Dwarf English BoxwoodBuxus sempervirens suffruticosa: Dwarf English Boxwood is the smallest of the boxwood family and only reaches 1 to 2 feet tall by 1 to 2 feet wide when mature. Used extensively in knot gardens and as edger plants.

Can boxwood shrubs be cut back?

"Boxwoods can be cut back pretty dramatically and they'll re-grow nicely. That's not true of all evergreens. In general, firs, Pines, spruce and other evergreens with 'whorled branches' will NOT sprout new growth in areas cut back to leafless wood.

Is a box wood a tree?

The boxwood tree isn't actually a tree, it is considered a shrub. It can grow to almost reach four feet tall but most people prune these plants to a specific shape.

Is box a tree?

Box is a slow-growing, evergreen tree. The best known wild population of box is on Box Hill, Surrey. Its bark is grey and fissures with age.

What is the box tree in the Bible?

Boxwood - buxus sempervirens for buxus longifolia The Bible mentions the Box Tree of Lebanon and those imported from the islands of the Mediterranean. The city of Tyre's ships had seats of boxwood inlaid with ivory.

How long do box trees live?

They come in various shapes (e.g. round, columnar, oval) and sizes, and normally have small, glossy, dark green leaves. With the right conditions, they are long-lasting and can live 20-30 years.

How many species are there in the Buxus family?

Buxus is a genus of about 70 species in the family Buxaceae. Common names include box or boxwood.

What is a box plant?

Box plants are commonly grown as hedges and for topiary .

What is boxwood used for?

It is mostly used to make tailpieces, chin rests and tuning pegs, but may be used for a variety of other parts as well.

How big do sycamores get?

They are slow-growing evergreen shrubs and small trees, growing to 2–12 m (rarely 15 m) tall. The leaves are opposite, rounded to lanceolate, and leathery; they are small in most species, typically 1.5–5 cm long and 0.3–2.5 cm broad, but up to 11 cm long and 5 cm broad in B. macrocarpa.

Is black ebony wood?

The black piece is ebonized, not made of ebony. Owing to its fine grain it is a good wood for fine wood carving, although this is limited by the small sizes available. It is also resistant to splitting and chipping, and thus useful for decorative or storage boxes. Formerly, it was used for wooden combs.

How tall does a boxwood tree get?

The American Boxwood is a broadly rounded, multi-branched evergreen shrub or small tree that can grow up to 15'-20' tall at maturity though it can be kept much shorter through pruning. The dense foliage has leaves that are a glossy dark green on top with a yellow green underside.

What are the problems with boxwood?

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The plant is susceptible to boxwood blight and leaf spot diseases. Insect pests include leafminer, boxwood mite, and boxwood psyllid.

Is boxwood a vertical plant?

Boxwood may be used as a vertical accent plant, in mixed beds, as topiary, or to form a narrow hedge. Being evergreen, it provides winter interest in the garden.

What is a Japanese boxwood?

japonica 'Green Beauty' (Japanese Boxwood) is a dense and compact evergreen shrub with a lush foliage of small, glossy, lance-shaped, dark green leaves. The foliage retains its rich color most of the year, becoming bronze-tinged in cold winter weather.

What is a boxwood?

Buxus sempervirens 'Graham Blandy' (Boxwood) Architectural, Buxus sempervirens 'Graham Blandy' (Boxwood) is a slow-growing, broadleaf evergreen shrub of columnar habit with a soft and lush foliage of ovate, lustrous leaves. Read More. Add to Collection. Add to Any Collection.

What is a wintergreen boxwood?

Buxus sinica var. insularis 'Wintergreen' (Korean Boxwood) is a vigorous, rounded, evergreen shrub with a lush foliage of small, glossy, light green leaves. The foliage retains its color reasonably well throughout the winter. Read More.

What is a small leaf boxwood?

Award-winning Buxus microphylla 'Faulkner' (Small-Leaved Boxwood) is a dense, compact, evergreen shrub with a lush foliage of small, rounded, dark bluish green, glossy leaves. The foliage retains its rich color most of the year, becoming bronze-tinged in cold winter weather.

Why are boxwoods so popular?

Boxwoods are highly popular in the landscape for many reasons. Very versatile, they nicely complement beds or borders, serve as short or medium-sized hedges, draw attention to their geometrical dimensions, formalize gardens, partition or edge garden beds and serve as accent plants.

Is Boxwood a shrub?

Compact, Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' (Boxwood) is a small, slow-growing, broadleaf evergreen shrub with a soft and lush foliage of ovate, fairly glossy leaves, up to 1 in. long (2 cm). Tough, hardy and easy to grow, this dwarf Boxwood provides color year-round. Read More.

Is Buxus sempervirens a boxwood?

Naturally architectural, Buxus sempervirens 'Dee Runk' (Boxwood) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub of elegant columnar habit with a soft and lush foliage of ovate, lustrous leaves. Its deep green foliage has shown good resistance to boxwood blight.

What is the English Boxwood?

The English Boxwood is heralded as an easy to grow plant with softly rounded form and lush foliage. It has an attractive loose, blousey shape that softens the landscape with easy appeal.

What is the best shrub for landscaping?

The American and English Buxus varieties are two of the most prevalent species sold in landscaping, but there are many more options for the discerning gardener. Choose from a variety of leaf shapes, growth forms, and rate and hardiness ranges for a shrub that will best suit your garden.

How many types of boxwoods are there?

Boxwoods are one of the most popular landscape shrubs available. They are noted for their compact forms, ease of care and adaptability. Currently, there are over 200 types of Boxwoods with just over 140 of those available commercially and an unnamed number of cultivars. The American and English Buxus varieties are two ...

What is the best ornamental plant for a garden?

Finding the perfect ornamental plant for the garden can be a matter of taste, practicality, hardiness, and maintenance level. Buxus, or Boxwood, is one of the most appealing shrubs on the market with a wide range of uses in the landscape. Boxwood bush types may be used as bonsai, container plants, hedges, topiary, and single specimen spectacles.

How tall does a rotunidfolia plant get?

Rotunidfolia has the largest leaves of the cultivated forms. It is shade tolerant and reaches 4 to 5 feet (1 to 1-1/2 m.) in height.

What is the best cone shape for Boxwood?

A plant that forms an almost perfect cone shape is Pyramidalis. While not as hardy as some Boxwood, it grows slowly to 5 feet (1-1/2 m.) with no need to shear to keep the elegant shape. Vardar Valley is disease resistant and suitable for zones 5 to 8 with a nice tight, low growth habit.

Does American Buxus have an odor?

It has an attractive loose, blousey shape that softens the landscape with easy appeal. Unfortunately, the foliage has an odor, which may be offensive to some. The common, or American Buxus has over 400 cultivars with a wide range of size, form, and variation in leaf color and shape.

What is boxwood shrub?

Boxwood (Buxus) shrubs are a common sight in home gardens and commercial landscaping projects all over the world. Gardeners use the easy-to-care-for shrubs in a myriad of ways. They have a long history as decorative plants prized by for use shaped hedges, topiaries, screens, walkway borders, bonsai and shaped container plants.

Why are boxwoods thick?

They provide thick cover because the foliage begins close to the ground and is dense enough to block light. Boxwood blooms are small, insignificant light yellow flowers.

How many varieties of boxwood trees are there?

Overall, boxwood trees and shrubs include approximately 90 species and hundreds of cultivars. They can survive in numerous hardiness zones including Mediterranean climates. Boxwood shrubs are slow-growing plants with dark green glossy leaves. Some varieties have variegated leaves. Leaf shape depends on the variety; some are round while others are elliptical. They provide thick cover because the foliage begins close to the ground and is dense enough to block light. Boxwood blooms are small, insignificant light yellow flowers. Some grow only a foot tall while others can reach up to 20 feet tall.

When did boxwoods first appear in the US?

Known as "man's oldest garden ornamental” according to the American Boxwood Society, ancient Egyptians used boxwoods as decorative plants as early as 4,000 B.C. The plants arrived in the United States during Colonial times from Europe. Boxwood shrubs remain popular and decorate the formal gardens of some of the world’s most famous landmarks ...

What is the best time to prune boxwood?

Plants need well-drained, alkaline soil that contains organic matter. They can grow in full sun and partial shade. Winter is the most ideal time for pruning and thinning out shrubs. Common pests that feed on boxwood foliage include leafminers, species of mites and psyllids, also know as jumping plant lice.

Where do buxus sempervirens grow?

Buxus sempervirens is a rounded to broad-rounded shrub or small tree that is native primarily to open woodlands and rocky hillsides in southern Europe, northern Africa and western Asia. It typically matures in a shrubby form to 5-15' tall, but may grow as a tree to as much as 20-30' tall. Small, elliptic to oval to oblong leaves (1/2" to 1 1/2" long) are simple, opposite, smooth-margined and evergreen. Leaves are dark glossy green above and yellowish-green below. Inconspicuous, apetalous flowers in axillary clusters are pale green to yellow to creamy white. Flowers appear in April and May. Fruit is a dehiscent capsule (to 1/3" long) that matures to brown.

What diseases can boxwoods get?

Otherwise, boxwood requires little special care other than annual pruning. Susceptible to boxwood blight and leaf spot diseases. Root rot can also be a problem in poorly-drained soils. The three main insect pests of boxwoods are boxwood leafminer, boxwood mite and boxwood psyllid. In the deep South, nematodes are of concern. New growth is particularly susceptible to winter damage. Rabbits and deer tend to avoid this plant.

How big is a Japanese boxwood?

Size: 2 to 4 feet tall and wide. USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9.

How big is a boxwood tree?

It has a nice oval habit, but it is more susceptible to boxwood blight than some other varieties. Size: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9.

What is the disease that causes brown spots on boxwood?

They're also deer-resistant, so their popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. Unfortunately, many kinds of boxwoods are susceptible to an incurable fungal disease called boxwood blight. The fungus appears as brown spots on leaves until all foliage dries up and drops.

How big is a North Star boxwood?

Size: 2 to 2.5 feet tall and wide. USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9.

How big is a green beauty plant?

It stands up to heat, humidity, and drought better than many types. Size: 4 to 6 feet tall and wide. USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9. Green Mound (Buxus hybrid 'Green Mound')

Can boxwoods be planted close together?

To improve your odds of keeping your landscape healthy, buy boxwoods that are more disease-resistant like the ones featured here, and don't plant them too close together so air can circulate.

How tall do suffruticosa shrubs grow?from thespruce.com

The growth habit is tighter and more compact than the 'Arborescens' cultivars. These shrubs grow to 2 to 3 feet in height with a 2- to 4-foot spread.

How tall is a Japanese boxwood?from thespruce.com

It is for zones 6 to 9 and has mature dimensions of 6 to 8 feet tall by 10 to 15 feet wide. Japanese boxwoods figure prominently at a number of historic sites in the Far East. B. microphylla japonica 'Winter Gem' is 4 to 6 feet tall with a similar spread.

What Is A Boxwood Hedge Like?from trimhedge.com

It prefers dappled sun light, but can withstand most moderate climates, which explains its prevalence in countries like the UK and USA.

How Do I Propagate A Boxwood Hedge?from trimhedge.com

In July or August, use a sharp knife to take cuttings of 3 to 4 inches in length. Plant them into a pot filled with a suitable rooting medium (avoid using potting compost at this early stage), having first removed the lower leaves and peeled away the bark from the bottom of the stem. You can use a rooting hormone to encourage growth.

What Are The Main Threats For A Boxwood Hedge?from trimhedge.com

The biggest threat is Blight, a fungus that can be fatal to the plant if left unchecked. Signs of blight include coloured spots on the leaves, discolouration and death of the leaves and lesions on the stems. It is more common in warm and humid climates the fungal spores can be spread by wind and wildlife.

Why are my boxwoods turning yellow?from thespruce.com

A common problem for boxwood shrubs is "winter bronzing," a shift to reddish-brown or yellowish foliage color caused by winter exposure to wind and sun. One way to address the problem is to spray an anti-desiccant on the shrubs in late November and again in late January and to make sure your plants are watered sufficiently throughout the growing season. Also, you can build a structure around your bushes to shelter them from the wind and sun in winter. But some gardeners do not mind—or even actually value—the winter bronzing on the foliage.

What shrubs can be used as a hedge?from thespruce.com

Two plants can be used to flank an entryway. Buxus microphylla var. japonica, the Japanese boxwood, is one of the most popular shrubs for low hedges. It is also preferred where a more drought-tolerant shrub is needed. It is for zones 6 to 9 and has mature dimensions of 6 to 8 feet tall by 10 to 15 feet wide.

What is a Buxus genus?

Landscape Uses. Back to Top. The Buxus genus includes about 70 species of slow-growing broadleaf evergreens. Most of the garden forms are cultivars or hybrids of two species— B. sempervirens (common box) and B. microphylla (Japanese box). Boxwoods are typically large shrubs or small trees, but most of the varieties used in modern landscaping are ...

What is a boxwood shrub?

Boxwoods are typically large shrubs or small trees, but most of the varieties used in modern landscaping are dwarf varieties, such as B. sempervirens ' Suffruticosa ', a popular plant for hedges and topiaries. Another dwarf variety is the Korean ( Buxus sinica var. insularis ).

Why are my boxwoods turning yellow?

A common problem for boxwood shrubs is "winter bronzing," a shift to reddish-brown or yellowish foliage color caused by winter exposure to wind and sun. One way to address the problem is to spray an anti-desiccant on the shrubs in late November and again in late January and to make sure your plants are watered sufficiently throughout the growing season. Also, you can build a structure around your bushes to shelter them from the wind and sun in winter. But some gardeners do not mind—or even actually value—the winter bronzing on the foliage.

What shrubs can be used as a hedge?

Two plants can be used to flank an entryway. Buxus microphylla var. japonica, the Japanese boxwood, is one of the most popular shrubs for low hedges. It is also preferred where a more drought-tolerant shrub is needed. It is for zones 6 to 9 and has mature dimensions of 6 to 8 feet tall by 10 to 15 feet wide.

How tall is a Japanese boxwood?

It is for zones 6 to 9 and has mature dimensions of 6 to 8 feet tall by 10 to 15 feet wide. Japanese boxwoods figure prominently at a number of historic sites in the Far East. B. microphylla japonica 'Winter Gem' is 4 to 6 feet tall with a similar spread.

How tall does a sempervirens shrub grow?

The growth habit is tighter and more compact than the 'Arborescens' cultivars. These shrubs grow to 2 to 3 feet in height with a 2- to 4-foot spread. B sempervirens' Arborescens' is a considerably larger, faster-growing plant, growing as tall as 20 feet with a spread of 8 to 10 feet. B. sempervirens 'Monrue Green Tower' is a columnar form, ...

What is the best climate for boxwoods?

Boxwoods typically thrive in the climate conditions in zones 6 to 8. In very hot summer weather, the shrubs will appreciate more water and shade. Zone 5 gardeners may find that stem tips die back in cold weather.

Overview

Selected species

Selected cultivars

Uses

See also

External links