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Common Box

4.0 out of 5 (2 experiences)

Fast grower

Browns easily

About Common Box

‘Vardar Valley’ boxwood is a woody, broadleaf evergreen, perennial shrub or tree in the Buxaceae (boxwood) family. It is one of the most cold hardy cultivars of boxwood and has distinctive blue-green leaves. This dense, mounding shrub can grow 2 to 3 feet in height and 3 to 6 feet in width. It only puts on an average of 2 inches a year.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Buxus sempervirens

Genus

Buxus

Family

Buxaceae

Order

Buxales

Also known as

Common Boxwood, Common Boxwood, Common box, European box, Boxwood, english box and Buxus Ball

How to care for Common Box

💦 Water

How often to water your Common Box

Common Box needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Common Boxwood in your home

Common Box love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Common Box does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Common Box in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Common Box

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Common Box: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Common Box after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #CommonBoxwood

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Common Box is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

💦 Water Needs

Common Box prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Common Box requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Common Box is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

🪴 Soil

Common Box does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

💩 Fertilizer

Common Box grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Common Box will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Common Box can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 5a-8b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Common Box can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.