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Box

Box is a small tree, but often grows as a dense evergreen shrub. It is a very popular garden plant for small hedges.

What other names does it have?

Generic name	Box
Latin name	Buxus sempervirens
Family name	Box
Latin family name	Buxaceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a broadleaf
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	No, it is evergreen

Species description:

Average height	6-8m

Leaf

Description	Small, curved and with smooth edges. The leaves often notched at their tip. They are leathery to touch and have an odd, sweet smell
Shape	Oval
Size	2-3 cm
Colour	Glossy green
Leaf stalk	Short stalk
Leaf arrangement	Opposite

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Clustered/grouped flowers
Flowering season	Late winter onwards
Tree/flower sex	Both sexes
Fruit colour	Brown when ripe

Bark and twig

Bark description	Light brown-grey with close ridges
Twig Description	Green sinuous twigs

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Native
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Naturally occurs on calcareous soils though widely planted. Very shade tolerant
What is its British conservation status?	Common

Additional information

Is any part of the tree poisonous?	All parts of the box are poisonous if eaten and will induce vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain
Human uses of tree and timber	Box wood is yellow and extremely hard and fine-grained. It has been used since medieval times for fine wood-engraving. It is also used in wood-turning for small objects like chessmen, pulley blocks and moving parts in the textile industry. Box is a favoured bush for topiary (trees and bushed cut into ornamental shapes)
Tree lore and folklore	In some areas box sprigs were often given to mourners at funerals to throw onto the coffin as it was seen as a sombre plant. A number of places in southern England are named after box, for example Box Hill, Boxley and Boxworth.

Box tree

Box - fruit, leaves, flowers

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

BritishTrees

©2012 The Woodland Trust