Box
Buxus sempervirens
Box is a shrub for structure, suited to full sun to partial shade and clay, loam or chalk, flowering Apr, May.
| Type | Shrub |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 200 cm |
| Spread | 100 cm |
| Aspect | full sun to partial shade |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Hardiness | USDA 6a-8b, RHS H6 |
| Pollinator-friendly | No |
| Pet-safe | No |
Where to use it in a border
At around 200 cm, it sits best toward the back of a border, or on its own as a focal point with room around it. Give it about 100 cm of room to spread. It is hardy across USDA zones 6a to 8b and rated H6 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of full sun, shade, clay soil, chalk soil, evergreen plants.
Border Builder uses Box's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- Evergreen, so it keeps the border furnished through winter.
- It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
- Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Black mondo grassto edge in front
- Coral bells 'Fire Alarm'to edge in front
- David Viburnumto edge in front
- Euonymusto edge in front
- False Holly 'Goshiki'to edge in front
- Heucherato edge in front
Garden styles
Sources
Bloom timing and hardiness drawn from: