Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

ShrubsTrees

Buxus sempervirens 'Rotundifolia'

box 'Rotundifolia'

A dense, multistemmed, evergreen tree or shrub to around 200cm with a dense, oval habit, neat, ovate bright green foliage turning to darker green in winter, and smooth grey bark. More vigorous then your standard box, its fine-textured foliage makes it an ideal option for shaping into 'umbrella' trees for areas in a garden where privacy is required

Other common names

small-leaved box 'Rotundifolia'

Synonyms

Buxus 'Rotundifolia'
Buxus microphylla 'Rotundifolia'

Save to My plants

Buy this plant

Plant nurseries
3 suppliers

Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Buxaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy, Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: Pets (dogs): Harmful if eaten For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Buxus can be evergreen shrubs or small trees, with simple, leathery, opposite leaves and clusters of small, pale yellow flowers followed by pale green to brown fruits
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any fertile, well-drained soil. Prefers light shade, full sun may result in dull or scorched foliage in dry soils. Water regularly while establishing. See box cultivation for more detailed advice

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 8 in summer, renovation pruning can be carried out in late spring. Use mulch and a general fertiliser after hard pruning

Pests

May be susceptible to box tree caterpillar, box sucker, mussel scale and red spider mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to a leaf spot, box blight and, rarely, honey fungus

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.