| General Description | A very cold hardy boxwood with rich green, broad-leaved foliage that resembles B. sempervirens. Good winter colour. |
| Shape | Wide oval form. |
| Landscape | Hedges, either clipped or unclipped. Massing or as in the picture, a specimen or focal point in a formal garden. Suited to partial shade and hence I often use it as an evergreen foil in the shade garden. |
| Propagation | Propagate in mid-summer by taking semi-ripe cuttings from the current season's growth. Collect in the early morning using a sharp knife to cut pieces 10 - 15 cm in length. Remove all leaves from the lower third and pinch out any soft terminal growth. Dip into a number 2 rooting hormone, insert into trays or pots of cutting compost (50/50 mix of compost and sharp sand or perlite) and water well. Place in a propagator with bottom heat set at 15°C with or without mist; rooting should occur in 4 - 6 weeks. |
| Cultivation | Easy to grow on most soil types but prefers rich garden loams and heavy soils. Full sun or light shade and protect from drying winds. |
| Pests | Spider mites may be an occasional problem in hot summers as well as boxwood leaf miner. Recently Boxwood blight has become a major problem both in Europe and most of North America. The fungus Cylindrocladium buxicola causes leaf spots, defoliation and even extensive die-back. The disease can be spread by water splash, tools and footwear and can survive for up to six years in the soil. It thrives in moist, humid environments but is killed when exposed to temperatures in excess of 33 °C for at least a week. The disease also affects Pachysandra, Sarocococca and Buxus balearica, sinica, macowanii, microphylla, bodinieri, glomerata, harlandii, sempervirens and riparia. |
| Habitat | Horticultural origin. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Small, solitary, sessile, ovoid with 1 - 2 pairs of visible scales. |
| Flower Description | Salmon, yellow cream, very fragrant but somewhat insignificant in ornamental value. |