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Buxus microphylla (Small-leaved box)

Other names: Littleleaf boxwood

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Species
B. microphylla is an evergreen, slow growing, dense shrub with tiny, green leaves that turn bronze coloured in the winter. In late spring it has inconspicuous, yellowish, fragrant flowers.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
0.9 m 1.5 m 5-10 years
2 ft 4 ft 5-10 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Clay
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Partial Shade
  • Full Shade
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
  • North
Exposure
  • Exposed
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Plant in well-drained soil in partial shade. Avoid scorch by sun and strong winds. If using for topiary or hedging, plant young plants just below the nursery soil mark to encourage growth from the base.

Suggested uses

Banks and Slopes, Ground Cover, Containers/Patio, Architectural, Mediterranean, Drought Tolerant, Hedging/Screens, Garden edging, Instant, Foliage only

UK hardiness

H6

USDA zones

Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10

Sunset zone

3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Unknown
Central Valley = Unknown
South Coastal = Unknown
South Inland = Unknown
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Compact

Native to

Garden origin

Drought tolerant

Yes

Flood tolerant

No

Fragrance

Flowers have a fragrance.

Toxicity

Ingestion may cause stomach upset; contact may irritate the skin.

Plant care

Pruning

As an informal hedge, box requires little pruning. Be guided by the natural habit of this plant. Keep plants to the desired size by pruning back long shoots. Hedging plants and topiary can be cut back hard when young to encourage bushy growth. Trim matur

Propagation methods

Semi-hardwood cuttings

Pests

Box sucker

Mussel scale

Red spider mite (box and other)

Diseases

Box blights

Leaf spot

Prune out unsightly shoots only (only when needed)

Take semi-hardwood cuttings in late-summer

Plant in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soils

Plant in partial or full shade (autumn or spring)

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (43)

Buxus

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Buxus sempervirens (any variety)
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Buxus sempervirens (any variety) Box (any variety)
Buxus 'Glencoe'
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Buxus 'Glencoe' Box 'Glencoe'
Buxus 'Green Velvet'
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Buxus 'Green Velvet' Box 'Green Velvet'
Buxus sempervirens 'Arborescens'
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Buxus sempervirens 'Arborescens' Box 'Arborescens'
Buxus balearica
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Buxus balearica Balearic box
Buxus sempervirens 'Elegantissima'
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Buxus sempervirens 'Elegantissima' Box 'Elegantissima'
Buxus sempervirens 'Latifolia Maculata'
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Buxus sempervirens 'Latifolia Maculata' Box 'Latifolia Maculata'
Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa'
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Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' Box 'Suffruticosa'
Buxus microphylla 'Herrenhausen'
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Buxus microphylla 'Herrenhausen' Small-leaved box 'Herrenhausen'
Buxus microphylla
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Buxus microphylla Small-leaved box
Buxus sempervirens 'Marginata'
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Buxus sempervirens 'Marginata' Box 'Marginata'
Buxus sempervirens 'Argenteovariegata'
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Buxus sempervirens 'Argenteovariegata' Variegated common boxwood
Buxus sempervirens
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Buxus sempervirens Common box
Buxus sempervirens 'Rotundifolia'
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Buxus sempervirens 'Rotundifolia' Box 'Rotundifolia'
Buxus microphylla var. japonica
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Buxus microphylla var. japonica Japanese boxwood
Buxus sinica var. insularis 'Green Mountain'
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Buxus sinica var. insularis 'Green Mountain' Boxwood 'Green Mountain'
Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Winter Gem'
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Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Winter Gem' Japanese boxwood 'Winter Gem'
Buxus sempervirens clipped cone
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Buxus sempervirens clipped cone Box clipped cone
Buxus 'North Star'
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Buxus 'North Star' Box 'North Star'
Buxus microphylla 'Little Missy'
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Buxus microphylla 'Little Missy' Small-leaved box 'Little Missy'
Buxus sempervirens 'Graham Blandy'
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Buxus sempervirens 'Graham Blandy' Box 'Graham Blandy'
Buxus sempervirens 'Blauer Heinz'
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Buxus sempervirens 'Blauer Heinz' Box 'Blauer Heinz'
Buxus sempervirens 'Dee Runk'
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Buxus sempervirens 'Dee Runk' Box 'Dee Runk'
Buxus sempervirens 'Liberty'
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Buxus sempervirens 'Liberty' Box 'Liberty'
Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Baby Gem'
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Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Baby Gem' Japanese boxwood 'Baby Gem'
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