Buxus sempervirens - Boxwood

Buxus sempervirens is an evergreen bush that can adapt to any soil, any exposure, and any climate. Here it is in its 'ball' form, a perfect dark green sphere of remarkable density, ideal for immediately creating a permanent decoration, with classical or contemporary inspiration, on a terrace or in the garden.

Buxus sempervirens is found in Portugal, northern Spain, France, Germany, England, southern Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. It is also found in the Balkans, as well as in Bulgaria. As shown by this vast distribution area, it is a very ubiquitous bush, capable of adapting to any type of soil and climate.

Common boxwood is a slow-growing bush with small, leathery, dark green, aromatic leaves (whose smell can be unpleasant). Its appearance varies greatly depending on its living conditions. In humid or shady places, its leaves will be darker green, larger, and the plant will exceed 3 m (9.8 ft) in height. In rather dry, even very dry, and sunny places, its leaves will be lighter, sometimes almost yellow, and its growth more modest. In autumn or winter, sometimes as early as the end of summer in very dry climates, the foliage can take interesting bronze or orange shades. In April-May, it produces an abundance of nectar-rich and fragrant flowers. These appear in clusters of small greenish petals and bunches of yellow stamens. Each cluster consists of a terminal female flower and several pendant male flowers. This flowering is followed by the formation of small brown-grey, leathery capsules containing many ripe seeds at the end of summer. Their scent attracts ants that disperse them, thus contributing to the propogation of the plant. It is common to see 50-year-old boxwoods in the gardens of family houses, and in very old gardens, individuals over 500 years old can be found.

We offer this 'ball' boxwood, whose compact foliage is composed of small, shiny green leaves, known as "double density" obtained through regular pruning. The boxwoods we deliver form a uniform 20 cm (7.9 in) diameter ball. Box balls are immediately decorative and provide instant colour in pots on a terrace or balcony. They can also be placed in the garden at each end of a border, at each corner, like beautiful vegetal gems on a necklace of greenery.

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A legendary tree: boxwood has lemon yellow wood with a very fine grain and is remarkably hard. It is the hardest wood found in the northern hemisphere. It ranks just behind ebony, derived from various species native to the tropical regions of the old world. As a symbol of immortality, it has been used since antiquity for the quality of its wood: Greeks and Romans used it to make tablets covered with wax on which they wrote. Highly sought after by turners, engravers, and sculptors, it was also used to make various musical instruments, tool handles, and to make the mallet of Masonic lodges, where it symbolised firmness and perseverance.