Box (Buxus sempervirens)

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(Family - Buxaceae)

Description:

Evergreen small tree, slow growing and long lived. Height max 9m.

Location:

Prefers chalk and limestone slopes sometimes with Beech. Natural distribution in a few locations in Southern England and distributed though Southern Europe, N.Africa and Western Asia.

Phenology:

Flowers Leaves Fruit Ripen Fall
Apr-May Sept-Oct

Uses

Yellow very hard and dense wood. Uses of wood - Has been used for carving, turnery, engraving blocks and inlay work. Takes a high polish and once highly valued. Still used for heads of mallets and rulers. Food and drink - Considered to have medicinal properties.

Growth & Propagation

Seed cases open suddenly ejecting small black seeds up to 3m away. Grown from seeds or cuttings.