Care of the shrub Buxus sempervirens or Common box |
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The genus Buxus, family Buxaceae, comprises 70 species of shrubs and trees native to Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Some species are: Buxus sempervirens, Buxus balearica, Buxus sinensis, Buxus japonica, Buxus microphylla, Buxus obtusifolia, Buxus citrifolia. Common names: Common box, Boxwood, European box. This species is native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia. They are shrubs or evergreen trees that reach 5 meters (16.4 feet) in height. They have small and abundant leaves of oblong or oval shape and that can be alternate or opposite. The flowers, small and in clusters, are not interesting from an ornamental point of view. They are used for hedges, bushy groups and even in pots; they tolerate pruning very well to give them various shapes. They are easy to grow plants that grow in sun, semi-shade or shade exposures; resist heat and frost. Buxus sempervirens can be grown in any type of soil, even calcareous soils. Planting is done in spring or autumn. Water once a week all year round except in summer when watering will be increased a little. They are slow-growing plants that are pruned in late winter to give them shape. Fertilize with manure in autumn and with mineral fertilizer in summer. They are quite resistant plants to pests and diseases. They propagate by cuttings set to root in a mixture of peat and perlite in spring or summer. |
Images of the shrub Buxus sempervirens or Common box |
 Buxus sempervirens  Buxus sempervirens  Buxus sempervirens  Buxus sempervirens |