Boxwood Buxus sempervirens
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Buxaceae family. It grows 60 cm–2 m (24 in–6.6 ft) tall and 60 cm–2 m (24 in–6.6 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and low water, and is hardy to about -25 °C (-13 °F). Space plants about 80 cm (31 in) apart.
Plan Boxwood in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Boxwood at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Buxaceae |
| Mature height | 60 cm–2 m (24 in–6.6 ft) |
| Mature spread | 60 cm–2 m (24 in–6.6 ft) |
| Spacing | 80 cm (31 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About -25 °C (-13 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 5) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 35 °C (95 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Common in gardens of | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
Is Boxwood toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: moderately toxic
- Dogs: moderately toxic
- Parts: leaves, stems
Buxus alkaloids can cause vomiting and diarrhea if eaten.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Boxwood
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and low water.
Keep apart or take care
- caution With Japanese spurge (pachysandra): Pachysandra and boxwood are both hosts of boxwood blight (Calonectria pseudonaviculata), so the pathogen can move between them; avoid planting pachysandra under or beside boxwood where the disease occurs. Evidence B
Shared pests and diseases
- Box blight: Calonectria box blight also infects pachysandra and sarcococca. Evidence B
See Boxwood in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Missouri Botanical Garden (114 plants)
- Riverside botanical garden (62 plants)
Questions about Boxwood
- How far apart should I plant Boxwood?
- About 80 cm (31 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 60 cm–2 m (24 in–6.6 ft).
- Does Boxwood need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Boxwood need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Boxwood?
- It tolerates about -25 °C (-13 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 5.
- Is Boxwood poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is moderately toxic; for dogs moderately toxic; for people mildly toxic. Buxus alkaloids can cause vomiting and diarrhea if eaten.
- What grows well with Boxwood?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Boxwood. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Flowers are inconspicuous and ignored in the simulation.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Japanese spurge (pachysandra) Pachysandra terminalis
- Himalayan sweet box (Christmas box) Sarcococca hookeriana
- Bigleaf hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla
- Rhododendron Rhododendron
- Oleander Nerium oleander
- Common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
- Camellia Camellia japonica
- Gardenia Gardenia jasminoides