Buxus sempervirens

Origin: Europe, North Africa, Turkey. Evergreen shrub, sometimes a small tree which is characterised by dense branches which start from the base. Upright habit, rather narrow in the first years, then spreading out. Green, quadrangular branches when young, round and grey later. Opposite leaves, oval-lanceolate, leathery, slightly notched at the tips, deep, bright green, paler on the underside, 2- 3cm long, 1-1.20cm wide. Flowers in March-April, not very beautiful but attractive to bees, greenish-yellow in axillary racemes. Fruit: greenish-blue capsules containing seeds. Grows well in any type of soil, even calcareous, as long as it is fertilised and well drained. Tolerates full sun if it is not combined with dry soil. Withstands any type of pruning and it is one of the shrubs most used for hedges, evergreen mazes and topiary sculptures. Together with Taxus baccata it is one of the most popular plants in formal Italian gardens.