Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box - Evergreen Trees Direct

Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box

$120.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 30cm

20cm 30cm 50cm

Current Stock Height Guides

30cm:Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 1m to 3m (unclipped)

Mature Width: 1m to 2m

Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box is expected to grow 15cm to 30cm per year (slow to moderate).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box

Buxus sempervirens, English Box, is the classic hedging box, a dense evergreen shrub with small glossy leaves set on short internodes. Hedging form stock is grown from material selected for tight branching, so plants knit into a solid face and take a clean line under shears. Pale yellow spring flowers are small and lightly scented.

Full sun through to part shade suits it, in a well drained soil kept evenly moist while the roots establish. Cool temperate and temperate districts are its strength, and mature plants shrug off repeated winter frost. Growth of 15 to 30 centimetres a year is steady rather than quick, which keeps a hedge line honest.

It is the standard choice for low borders, parterres, knot gardens and the clipped edges that hold a formal garden together. Councils and heritage properties specify it for the same reason home gardeners do. It stays where it is put and reads the same in July as it does in January.

Frequently Asked Questions

About English Box

What is English Box?

Buxus sempervirens is a slow growing evergreen shrub with small, glossy, dark green leaves, grown for centuries as a clipped hedge. The hedging form is selected for tight branching and short internodes, so plants knit together into a solid face and take a sharp edge under shears. It is not related to native Australian box species.

How big does English Box grow?

As a hedge it is normally held between 30 centimetres and 1 metre, which is where the plant looks its best. Taller hedges to about 1.5 metres are achievable with patience. Left entirely unclipped the species will slowly reach 3 to 5 metres tall and 2 to 3 metres wide over several decades.

How far apart should I plant English Box for a hedge?

For a low border hedge from 20 or 30 centimetre stock, plant 25 to 30 centimetres apart, which is three to four plants per metre. For a taller hedge from 50 centimetre stock, 35 to 40 centimetres apart is enough. Closer spacing closes the line sooner but does not change the finished result.

What is the difference between English Box and Japanese Box?

English Box has finer, darker foliage and a slower, tighter habit, which suits low formal hedges and parterres. Japanese Box is a little coarser and faster, holds its colour better in heat and humidity, and is the safer choice in warmer or more humid districts. In cool temperate gardens English Box remains the traditional pick.

Is English Box frost tolerant?

Yes, and comfortably so. It is one of the more cold hardy hedging plants available, and established hedges take repeated winter frost without damage, including in Canberra, Ballarat, Orange and across Tasmania. A late frost can bronze new spring growth, but the plant grows straight through it. Water well before winter in the first year.

Does English Box grow in shade?

It grows in full sun through to part shade. Part shade keeps the leaf a deeper green in hot districts, while full sun gives the densest growth in cool ones. Heavy shade produces thin, open growth that never closes properly into a hedge, so aim for at least three or four hours of direct light.

How do I care for and prune an English Box hedge?

Trim twice a year, in late spring and again in late summer, always cutting the sides slightly wider at the base so light reaches the lower foliage. Feed in early spring, mulch, and water deeply in dry spells rather than lightly and often. Renovation cuts back into old wood are tolerated but are best staged over two seasons.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

View full details

Type: Garden Supplies

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Driveway Border
Council or Civic Landscapes

Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box works in an:

Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Heritage / Traditional Garden – timeless, classic plantings for period homes.
Contemporary / Architectural Garden – striking forms for bold design statements.
Cottage Garden – romantic mix of flowers, colour, and texture.

Is Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box Evergreen or Deciduous?

Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 1m to 3m (unclipped)

Mature Width: 1m to 2m

Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box is expected to grow 15cm to 30cm per year (slow to moderate).

Growth Rate of Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box

Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box is expected to grow 15cm to 30cm per year (slow to moderate).

They are considered to have a:

Slow Growth Rate
Medium Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box

Is Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box frost tolerant?

Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.

Does Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box Flower?

Buxus sempervirens produces small, pale yellow flowers in spring. These blooms are inconspicuous and lightly fragrant, with the plant valued primarily for its dense foliage, neat form and suitability for clipped hedging rather than its flowering display.

Does Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Spring

Flower Type:

Not Applicable

Flower Colour:

Yellow

Is Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box an Australian Native Tree?

No

Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box is Native to Southern and Western Europe, where Buxus sempervirens grows naturally in woodland margins and limestone soils.

What is the Wildlife Value of Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box ?

Its dense, evergreen structure provides excellent shelter and nesting habitat for small birds and beneficial insects. While not grown for nectar-rich flowers, the compact foliage contributes to garden biodiversity by offering year-round protection and habitat within formal landscapes.

How much Sunlight does Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box need?

Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box will thrive best in:

Part Shade
Full Sun

Preferred Soil?

Buxus sempervirens performs best in well-drained loam soils with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. It will tolerate heavier soils if drainage is improved with organic matter. Avoid persistently wet or compacted ground, as excess moisture can stress the roots and reduce vigour. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then gradually reduce watering as the hedge matures.

Is Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box Drought Tolerant?

Is Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box Drought tolerant?

As a young plant it benefits from regular watering to establish evenly, particularly during warmer weather. Once established, English Box shows moderate drought tolerance and performs reliably through dry periods when planted in well-drained soil, with occasional supplementary watering supporting best growth and foliage colour.

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How To Plant Your Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box

Hedging and screening: 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge.

Pot or container: A 40 to 50 centimetre wide pot suits a single specimen for courtyards, entries and balconies.

Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box is expected to grow 15cm to 30cm per year (slow to moderate).

Slow Growth Rate
Medium Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, reduce to once weekly in dry periods. Mulch helps maintain consistent moisture.

Mulching: Apply a 3 to 5 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone in the garden, or a thin layer of decorative pebbles in pots, keeping it clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Tip prune in late winter and again in summer to build dense growth. For a formal hedge, light shaping two to three times a year keeps lines crisp.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection for psyllids or scale in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Buxus sempervirens (Hedging Form) – English Box in Different Soil

Buxus sempervirens performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is improved with organic matter.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch well to maintain consistent moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter to maintain levels naturally.