Buxus sempervirens

Buxus sempervirens prefers well-drained soil and partial to full sun, though it tolerates shade reasonably well. Consistent moisture is important, especially for establishing young plants, and protection from drying winter winds helps prevent foliar damage in cold climates.

Boxwood faces serious threats including boxwood blight (a fungal disease causing leaf spots and defoliation), boxwood leafminer, and Volutella blight. Boxwood blight, first identified in the United States in 2011, has become particularly devastating and can kill mature plants within a single season.

Buxus sempervirens is a slow-growing shrub, typically adding 6-12 inches of growth per year under good conditions. This slow growth makes it ideal for formal hedging and topiary, but requires patience for plants to reach mature heights of 10-15 feet.

Prune boxwood in late winter or early spring before new growth begins, or shear lightly throughout the growing season to maintain formal shapes. Avoid heavy pruning in late summer or fall, as this can stimulate new growth that will be vulnerable to winter damage.