Gardeners' World, 101 Shade-loving Plants by James Wickham

Author:James Wickham
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781448140800
Publisher: Ebury Publishing

Common box

Buxus sempervirens

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Let box cut a swathe through the winter garden

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Time to plant: all year round

Shrub H: 5m (16½ft), S: 5m (16½ft)

Clipped into strong, geometric shapes, such as spheres and pyramids, box plants can become living architectural pieces that help link the house and garden. The common box (Buxus sempervirens) is a remarkably adaptable evergreen and will thrive in quite dense shade. It’s also very easy to grow in any well-drained soil or large pots filled with soil-based compost.

To maintain a crisp outline on box topiary, clip it at least once or twice a year during the summer. A pair of sheep shears or small hedge clippers is ideal. Old neglected box plants will also respond well to hard pruning in the spring.

Variegated varieties of box, such as B. s. ‘Marginata’, and ‘Latifolia Maculata’, are all excellent in deep shade. A shorter variety, called ‘Suffruticosa’, is best for creating low edging along a path.

TIP

Feed pot-grown box with a slow-release fertiliser in spring. This will keep the leaves rich green for the rest of the year.

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