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Buxus sempervirens - L.

Box

Author	L.	Botanical references	11, 17, 200
Family	Buxaceae	Genus	Buxus
Synonyms
Known Hazards	All parts of the plant are poisonous, especially the leaves and bark[200].
Range	Europe, including Britain, south and east from France and Germany to N. Africa and Albania.
Habitat	Beechwood and scrub, usually on chalk and limestone[17].
Edibility Rating	1 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	2 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen Shrub growing to 5m by 5m at a slow rate.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soil. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Hedge;

Edible Uses

Edible Uses: Condiment.

The leaves have been used in France as a substitute for hops (Humulus lupulus) in making beer[7]. They cannot be very wholesome, and would probably prove to be injurious[2].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Alterative; Antiperiodic; Antirheumatic; Cathartic; Cholagogue; Diaphoretic; Febrifuge; Homeopathy; Narcotic; Odontalgic; Oxytoxic; Sedative; Tonic; Vermifuge.

Although it has been used medicinally in the past as a sedative and to treat syphilis, box is very rarely used in modern herbalism[268]. The leaves and the bark are alterative, antirheumatic, cathartic, cholagogue, diaphoretic, febrifuge, oxytocic and vermifuge[4, 7, 9, 21, 178]. The leaves have been used as a quinine substitute in the treatment of malaria[7]. The leaves are harvested in the spring, before the plant comes into flower, and they are dried for later use[238]. The bark can be harvested at any time of the year and is dried for use in decoctions[238]. Use this remedy with caution and preferably only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. The plant has not been fully tested for its toxic side effects[7, 21]. The wood is diaphoretic, in full dose it is narcotic and sedative, in overdose it is convulsant and emetico-cathartic[4]. A tincture of the wood has been used as a bitter tonic and antiperiodic, it has also had a reputation for curing leprosy[4]. A volatile oil distilled from the wood has been prescribed in cases of epilepsy[4]. An essential oil obtained from the plant is used in dentistry[7]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[7]. It is extensively used in the treatment of rheumatism[7].

Other Uses

Dye; Hedge; Wood.

Box makes an excellent hedge from 45cm to 4.5 metres tall according to the variety grown[11, 29]. It is quite slow growing but very tolerant of cutting and is often used in topiary, where the hedge is trimmed into different forms for ornamental effect[182]. The leaves and sawdust, boiled in lye, have been used to dye hair an auburn colour[4]. Wood - hard, close grained, heavy. Although the wood is rather small, it is highly valued on account of its hardness - it is twice as hard as oak (Quercus species)[4, 268]. It is used for engraving, printing blocks, bowls, combs etc[4, 7, 11, 46, 100, 115, 178]. The root especially is much liked by turners and cabinet makers[7].

Scented Plants

Leaves: Crushed

The foliage is pungently scented, especially when wet.

Cultivation details

Succeeds in almost any soil that is well-drained[11, 200], preferring light shade and chalky soils[9, 11, 28, 31]. Succeeds in dry shade[188]. Tolerates a pH range from 5.5 to 7.4[200]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -23°c, though it prefers milder winters[238]. A very polymorphic species, it is a very ornamental but slow growing plant[11] and there are many named varieties developed for their ornamental value[182]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[88, 200]. A good bee plant[108]. Plants are very tolerant of being trimmed, they can be cut right back to the base if required and will usually resprout freely[11, 29]. The foliage is pungently scented, especially when wet[245].

Propagation

Seed - stratification is not necessary but can lead to more regular germination[113]. The seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[138]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible in a cold frame. It usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c but stored seed can take longer[138]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of short side shoots with a heel, September in a frame[200]. High percentage[78]. Rather slow to root[K]. Nodal cuttings in spring in a frame. Fairly easy[200].

Cultivars

No entries have been made for this species as yet.

Links

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[7] Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.

[9] Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[21] Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.

[28] Knight. F. P. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society. 1980 ISBN 0-900629-78-9
A small but informative booklet listing plants that can be grown in shady positions with a few cultivation details.

[29] Shepherd. F.W. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society. 1974 ISBN 0900629649
A small but informative booklet giving details of all the hedging plants being grown in the R.H.S. gardens at Wisley in Surrey.

[31] Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland. 0

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[88] RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 1987
Snippets of information from the magazine of the RHS. In particular, there are articles on plants that are resistant to honey fungus, oriental vegetables, Cimicifuga spp, Passiflora species and Cucurbits.

[100] Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969 ISBN 0192176218
An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses.

[108] International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981
The title says it all.

[113] Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987 ISBN 0942375009
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.

[115] Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. 0
Written about a hundred years ago, but still a very good guide to the useful plants of Britain.

[138] Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.

[178] Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 0
A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating.

[182] Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

[268] Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979 ISBN 0-85613-067-2
Excellent herbal with good concise information on over 400 herbs.

Readers Comments

Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments, use at your own risk. In particular Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.

Buxus sempervirens

ANdrew Saulnier Thu Nov 18 12:57:20 2004

I like the primative overall outlook of the Common Boxwood

Buxus sempervirens

David Beaulieu Tue Jan 24 2006

Boxwood Shrubs Uses for boxwood shrubs and how to grow them.

Buxus sempervirens

Fri Jan 19 2007

Does anyone know why the Buxus sempervirens smell like cat pee?

Buxus sempervirens

Ken Fern, Plants for a Future Sun Jan 21 2007

Tastes seem to vary widely regarding the smell of this plant. Whilst the comment above compares it to the scent of cat wee, other people have had very positive reactions to it calling it highly refreshing and stimulating. The smell is much stronger after rain, so if anyone out there wants to give it a sniff and then pass on your comments to me, we can collate the results to see how many people have positive or negative reactions.

Buxus sempervirens

Ruud Sat Mar 3 2007

We live in Spain in the Pyrenees and have plenty of buxus around. Now, buxus is also entering the fields/pastures and are hard to kill. Who knows an effective way to get rid of buxus?

Buxus sempervirens

Sat Jul 26 2008

We live in Ohio and have boxwood in front of our house it to smells like cat pee.

Buxus sempervirens

Philip Wed Sep 17 2008

My BOX has recently become dead in several places. Some 15 years old and suddenly dead patches appearing. Very worrying. HELP Please. Philip

Buxus sempervirens

kiumars Thu Jan 29 2009

some technological properties of boxwood

Buxus sempervirens

Ktroy Tue Mar 31 2009

This plant smells to me like fresh rejuvenating oxygen after a rain. I am very attracted to this plant.. I just planted one near my window.

Buxus sempervirens

edward Tue Jan 19 2010

I can't help but thinking that the people who have smelly box might have some smelly cats visiting their garden! Our box hedge certainly smells nothing like a cat's loo and I'm not surprised - our dogs won't let a cat near our garden. It is of course possible that we aren't all talking about the same Buxus species. Philip's comment above is old but it's a common problem: box blight is a losing battle in my experience. I know several people who have managed it for years with constant cleaning, pruning, spraying etc and there is plenty of info out there, but I would personally give up and move on. If you have good soil drainage, you might consider lavender as a similar sized shrub. As for killing box, I'm surprised that it's a problem! Just dig down a bit, saw through some roots and rip it up. Hoe over any seedlings that appear - if you have a wild population sending seeds into your garden each year, this will just be one of those chores.

Ashridge Trees - Boxwood Plants More about Box

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