Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa'

Common box

• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: slow-growing
• Other features: contact with the sap may cause skin irritation
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Ideal for creating low parterres in a formal garden setting due to its compact habit and slow growth rate. It can also be clipped to form all sorts of shapes including spheres, pyramids, cubes and spirals, all of which can be used as focal points, or as a perfect foil for softer herbaceous planting. Alternatively, leave it unclipped and it will form a handsome, rounded, evergreen shrub.
  
  Box are happy growing in a sunny spot but the combination of dry soil and full sun may encourage poor growth and leaf scorching. If you have sandy soil it is best to keep them in a partially shady spot in the garden.
  
  
• Garden care: Ensure that the soil or compost is never allowed to dry out. Carefully cut back plants grown as hedges or topiary in mid- or late summer. Carry out rejuvenative pruning in late spring. After pruning apply a top-dressing of a balanced slow-release fertiliser such as blood, fish and bone (organic) or Osmacote (inorganic) around the base of the plant, ensuring that none touches the leaves or stems.
  • Eventual Height: 1m
  • Eventual Spread: 1.5m
  Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' - Common box Useful extremely slow growing plant