Buxus Sempervirens had been used for many centuries in Italian gardens typical of the Renaissance, as was the hedge shrub par excellence. One of the characteristics for which boxwood is most appreciated, in addition to its evergreen leaves, is its compactness and the ability to hold the typical shapes of this plant. Boxwood, also known by the Latin name of buxus sempervirens, lends itself very well to geometric pruning in the shape of a ball, spiral, pyramid or other and for this reason it is widely used as an ornamental pot plant. It has dark and wrinkled bark, tending to brown-greyish on mature wood, paler on young wood; the foliage is usually very leafy and compact with small, ovate, leathery leaves that give off a strong aroma when rubbed; it tolerates even drastic pruning without problems, it is in fact widely used in topiary art. In spring it produces clusters of yellowish flowers, insignificant but very fragrant; in summer rounded fruits, consisting of woody capsules containing small seeds. The leaves of some varieties change color in winter, tending to become greenish-yellow. it can reach 6 meters in height and, if left to grow freely, assumes a wide cone shape. It has a very slow growth which makes it ideal as a hedge plant or for topiary.
Buxus Sempervirens Plant Cultivation and Care
The ideal exposure for boxwood is sun-half shade. If we live in a particularly hot area, it is better to opt for partial shade. The buxus sempervirens grows well in any place, preferring in particular the sunny or semi-shaded positions, even if it does not present particular development problems even when it is grown completely in the shade. It does not fear the cold and also tolerates temperatures much below 0 °. It does not have particular needs even as regards the soil, however it prefers chalky, well-drained soils. Boxwood does not need particularly abundant watering, even if in particularly dry periods of the year it may occasionally need water; usually the water supplied by the rains is also sufficient. It is advisable to bury a small amount of organic fertilizer at the foot of the plant, in autumn and late winter, to ensure good plant development.
