Images of the Common Box (Buxus sempervirens)

Common Box

Buxus sempervirens

Also called Boxwood or Turkish Boxwood, this densely branched evergreen shrub may grow broader than it is tall. It is widely used in hedges, topiary work and formal gardens for its fullness and resiliency. Native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe, Africa and Asia, its Latin species name, “sempervirens,” means always green.

Growth Habit:An evergreen shrub with dense foliage that can grow to 4.5 m (15 ft) tall and (10-15 ft) wide.

Presence in US:NC NY OH TN VA

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This project was supported in part by NSF Grant IIS-03-25867 (ITR: An Electronic Field Guide: Plant Exploration and Discovery in the 21st Century) and by the Washington Biologists' Field Club.

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