Use with caution
Boxwood leaves and stems contain steroidal alkaloids and are toxic if eaten, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and in large amounts more serious effects; it is considered a problem for cats, dogs, and horses. Contact with the cut sap can also irritate skin. Animals usually avoid the bitter foliage, but keep clippings away from grazing pets.
Boxwood
Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa'
treeCommon boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) is the classic broadleaf evergreen of formal gardens, a dense, slow-growing shrub with small, glossy, deep-green leaves that respond to shearing better than almost any other plant. The dwarf English form, Suffruticosa, is the fine-textured edging box used for low parterres and bed borders, holding a clipped line for decades. Left unsheared the species can reach 15 to 20 ft over a very long life, but Suffruticosa is easily kept at 2 to 3 ft. Its great modern challenge is boxwood blight, a fungal disease that can defoliate plants, so siting for airflow and buying clean stock matter.
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Sun
full sun to partial shade
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Water
Every 10 days
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Harvest
~60 days
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Difficulty
medium
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
2-3 ft apart for a low hedge
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Planting Depth
Set at the same depth it grew in the nursery pot; keep the shallow roots mulched
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Soil pH
6.5-7.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Loam, clay, or sand, well-drained
Hardiness Zones
Zones 5 – 8
When to Fertilize
In early spring as new growth begins
Fertilizer
Balanced slow-release shrub fertilizer
🌱 Growing Guide
Grow boxwood in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil of nearly any texture, with a near-neutral pH around 6.5 to 7.5; good drainage is essential, as it resents wet feet. Its roots are shallow, so mulch to keep them cool and moist and avoid cultivating around the base. Water deeply during dry spells, especially the first two years, but do not keep the soil soggy. Shear to shape in late spring after the new flush, avoiding late-season pruning that pushes tender growth before frost. To limit boxwood blight, give plants space for airflow, water at the base rather than overhead, disinfect shears, and remove and bag any blighted foliage rather than composting it.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first harvest
Jun 14
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Hosta — A shade perennial that fills the ground beside a boxwood edge and shares the moist, well-drained site
- Liriope — A tough evergreen border grass that lines paths alongside clipped box
- Hydrangea — A larger flowering shrub that gives seasonal color behind an evergreen boxwood frame
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
A serious fungal defoliator; buy clean stock, space for airflow, water at the base, disinfect shears, and bag (do not compost) infected leaves
Larvae blister the leaves; choose resistant cultivars like Vardar Valley and prune out heavily mined growth
Stipples leaves in hot, dry weather; rinse foliage and support plant vigor
Cups the new leaves; usually cosmetic, prune affected tips if needed
🌾 Harvest & storage
Boxwood is grown as an evergreen structure plant, not for harvest. The main task is shearing: trim to shape in late spring once the new growth hardens, and thin the interior occasionally so light and air reach the center, which reduces blight and keeps the shrub dense to the ground. The clipped sprigs are popular in wreaths and holiday greenery.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Boxwood is an ornamental landscape shrub, not edible. Its value is year-round evergreen structure, formal hedging and edging, and clippings for wreaths and greenery.
⚠️ Toxicity & safety
Boxwood leaves and stems contain steroidal alkaloids and are toxic if eaten, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and in large amounts more serious effects; it is considered a problem for cats, dogs, and horses. Contact with the cut sap can also irritate skin. Animals usually avoid the bitter foliage, but keep clippings away from grazing pets.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.