Buxaceae FAMILY

Buxus sempervirens

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

All parts of the plant are poisonous, especially the leaves and bark[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ].

Botanical Description

Buxus sempervirens is a spreading, evergreen shrub or a small tree that can grow up to 9 metres tall, though is usually less than 5 metres[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. ]. The plant produces a high quality wood that is much valued by woodworkers. It also has medicinal applications but is somewhat toxic and is little used in modern herbalism. It is commonly grown in gardens, its wide range of cultivars being used as hedges, dwarf edging etc.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEurope - Britain to Spain, east to Germany and Greece[ W. Asia - Turkey, Caucasus, Iran; N. Africa - Morocco to Libya

HabitatBeechwood and scrub, usually on chalk and limestone[ 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. ].