Box
Buxus sempervirens
Box is a native British tree whose range spreads throughout south and west Europe and generally grows tallest in warmer southern regions and is most often found growing as a shrub in Britain. Although Box trees have been found growing as tall as 10m, it is unusual to find wild growing trees in this country which exceed 3m tall. Box is evergreen and slow growing with a narrow trunk and thin branches which tend to droop as they lengthen. Box has been planted as a shrub throughout the country to create formal and complex garden designs or simply as plant bed borders.
Situation:
Box thrives in shady situations on chalky well drained soils and to date no wild growing trees have been found within the New Forest. If you want to be sure to find a Box ‘tree’, Hilliers Arboretum near Romsey has some about 3m tall. A good place to see Box trees growing wild is at Box Hill, near Dorking in Surrey. In past centuries Box Hill was covered with Box trees which were grown as a valuable commodity for use in creating fine wood carving and for hard wearing parts for mathematical, mechanical and musical instruments.
Season/Life cycle:
| Flowers | Leaves | Fruit |
| Small and inconspicuous green/yellow coloured and pollinated by insects | Pairs of small, oval, glossy evergreen, leathery textured leaves grow opposite each other | A small capsule containing up to 6 seeds |
Uses
Boxwood is slow growing, hard and is so dense that it is said to sink in water. It has been used for centuries to make detailed carvings and woodcut blocks for printing, rulers, shuttles for weaving looms, musical instrument parts and decorative inlay.
