Buxus (any variety) (Box (any variety))

Botanical name

Buxus (any variety)

Other names

Box (any variety)

Genus

Buxus Buxus

Variety or Cultivar

Buxus (any variety) _ If you don't know the variety name of your Buxus (Box), you can add this plant to your lists to get care advice.

Buxus (any variety) are bushy, rounded or upright, evergreen shrubs or small trees bearing ovate to oblong, glossy or leathery, dark green leaves, sometimes variegated, and inconspicuous, yellow-green flowers in spring.

Foliage

Evergreen

Fragrance

Flowers have a fragrance.

Habit

Rounded, Bushy, Upright

Toxicity

Ingestion may cause stomach upset; contact may irritate the skin.

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Colour

Flower

Insignificant or absent, Pale-yellow in Spring

Foliage

Dark-green, Variegated in All seasons

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Red spider mite (box and other) , Box sucker , Mussel scale

Specific diseases

Box blights , Leaf spot

General care

Pruning

If grown informally, requires little pruning. Cut back young hedge plants by 1/3 in late spring. Trim mature hedges & topiary twice, once in late spring, once in late summer. Hard prune neglected plants in late spring by cutting back to 15-30cm.

Propagation methods

Semi-hardwood cuttings

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Buxus (any variety) (Box (any variety)) will reach a height of 5m and a spread of 5m after 20-50 years.

Suggested uses

Banks and Slopes, Drought Tolerant, Garden edging, Ground Cover, Hedging/Screens, Instant, Mediterranean, Containers, Architectural, Foliage only

Cultivation

Plant in well-drained soil in partial shade in spring or autumn. Needs moist soil to avoid scorch if planted in sun. Tolerates deep shade. If grown as a hedge, space 30-40cm apart, compact cultivars 10-15cm apart. Mature height depends upon variety.

Soil type

Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Partial Shade, Full Shade

Aspect

North, South, East, West

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Buxus (any variety) (Box (any variety))

Common pest name

box tree caterpillar; box tree pyralid

Scientific pest name

Cydalima perspectalis

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Present (Limited)

Likelihood to spread in UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

Stakeholder organisations may be interested in monitoring spread and damage and investigate possible control measures.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Buxus (any variety) (Box (any variety))

Common pest name

pink wax scale; red was scale; ruby wax scale

Scientific pest name

Ceroplastes rubens

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Based on its biology and low potential impact continued action on this pest in the UK would not be considered appropriate. It is likely to be of more concern to southern Member States of the EU; as it is an economic pest of citrus.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Buxus (any variety) (Box (any variety))

Common pest name

Carpenter; worm

Scientific pest name

Prionoxystus robiniae

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Polyphagous North American moth pest; with wood-boring larvae. Import requirements related to other pests reduce the likelihood of introduction to the UK; but statutory action would be taken against any interceptions.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/