Boxwood

Buxus sempervirens

1. Identification and origin

Box (Buxus sempervirens L.) is a shrub or small tree of the Buxaceae family, native to Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. It is widely used in formal gardens, hedges and topiary due to its dense and slow growth.

2. Economic importance

It is an ornamental species of high commercial value, used in nursery production, gardening and landscape architecture. The wood, very dense and homogeneous, is appreciated for musical instruments, engraving and precision work.

3. Botanical characterisation

Evergreen shrub, slow-growing, able to reach 2–6 m in height. The leaves are opposite, small, leathery, dark green and glossy. The flowers are small, yellowish-green, inconspicuous, but rich in nectar. The fruits are trilocular capsules that release black, shiny seeds.

4. Edaphoclimatic requirements

It prefers temperate climates, tolerating partial shade and moderate sun exposure. It develops in well-drained, calcareous or neutral soils, with good water availability, although it withstands short periods of drought. It is sensitive to prolonged waterlogging.

5. Main pests

• Box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis): severe defoliation and death of branches.
• Box psyllid (Psylla buxi): leaf deformations and honeydew.
• Scale insects (Coccidae): sap sucking and sooty mould.
• Mites (Tetranychidae): chlorosis and loss of vigour.

6. Main diseases

• Box blight (Cylindrocladium buxicola / Calonectria pseudonaviculata): leaf spots, necrosis and intense leaf drop.
• Leaf spot by Volutella buxi: dried branches and pinkish spots on the infected tissue.
• Root rots (Phytophthora spp.): decline and death in poorly drained soils.

7. General crop management

Management includes choosing well-drained sites, moderate pruning and removal of infected material. Regular surveillance is essential for early detection of the box tree moth. Irrigation should be controlled, avoiding excess moisture. In formal gardens, balanced fertilisation and soil aeration are recommended.

Bibliographic references

• EPPO Global Database – Buxus sempervirens.
• CABI Invasive Species Compendium – Cydalima perspectalis.
• Leuthardt, F. L. G., & Baur, B. (2013). Oviposition and larval development of the box tree moth. Journal of Applied Entomology, 137, 230–237.
• Henricot, B., & Culham, A. (2012). Cylindrocladium buxicola: a new disease of boxwood. Plant Pathology, 61, 969–977.
• LaMondia, J. A. (2015). Management of boxwood blight. In: Benson, D. M. (Ed.), Boxwood Blight Management Guide.