Buxus sempervirens
Box
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Buxus genus in the family Buxaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
All parts of the plant are poisonous, especially the leaves and bark[12].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaves have been used in France as a substitute for hops (Humulus lupulus) in making beer[22]. They cannot be very wholesome, and would probably prove to be injurious[11].
- Product or use
- Condiment
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Although it has been used medicinally in the past as a sedative and to treat syphilis, box is very rarely used in modern herbalism[16]. The leaves and the bark are alterative, antirheumatic, cathartic, cholagogue, diaphoretic, febrifuge, oxytocic and vermifuge[20][22][25][13][8]. The leaves have been used as a quinine substitute in the treatment of malaria[22]. The leaves are harvested in the spring, before the plant comes into flower, and they are dried for later use[14]. The bark can be harvested at any time of the year and is dried for use in decoctions[14]. Use this remedy with caution and preferably only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. The plant has not been fully tested for its toxic side effects[22][13]. The wood is diaphoretic, in full dose it is narcotic and sedative, in overdose it is convulsant and emetico-cathartic[20]. A tincture of the wood has been used as a bitter tonic and antiperiodic, it has also had a reputation for curing leprosy[20]. A volatile oil distilled from the wood has been prescribed in cases of epilepsy[20]. An essential oil obtained from the plant is used in dentistry[22]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[22]. It is extensively used in the treatment of rheumatism[22].
- Product or use
- Alterative
- Product or use
- Antiperiodic
- Product or use
- Antirheumatic
- Product or use
- Cathartic
- Product or use
- Cholagogue
- Product or use
- Diaphoretic
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Homeopathy
- Product or use
- Narcotic
- Product or use
- Odontalgic
- Product or use
- Oxytoxic
- Product or use
- Sedative
- Product or use
- Tonic
- Product or use
- Vermifuge
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Box makes an excellent hedge from 45cm to 4.5 metres tall according to the variety grown[3][18]. It is quite slow growing but very tolerant of cutting and is often used in topiary, where the hedge is trimmed into different forms for ornamental effect[9]. The leaves and sawdust, boiled in lye, have been used to dye hair an auburn colour[20]. Wood - hard, close grained, heavy. Although the wood is rather small, it is highly valued on account of its hardness - it is twice as hard as oak (Quercus species)[20][16]. It is used for engraving, printing blocks, bowls, combs etc[20][22][3][21][1][5][8]. The root especially is much liked by turners and cabinet makers[22].
- Product or use
- Dye
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, south and east from France and Germany to N. Africa and Albania.
- Habitat
- Beechwood and scrub, usually on chalk and limestone[7].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - stratification is not necessary but can lead to more regular germination[4]. The seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[6]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible in a cold frame. It usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c but stored seed can take longer[6]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of short side shoots with a heel, September in a frame[12]. High percentage[23]. Rather slow to root[K]. Nodal cuttings in spring in a frame. Fairly easy[12].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in almost any soil that is well-drained[3][12], preferring light shade and chalky soils[25][3][17][19]. Succeeds in dry shade[10]. Tolerates a pH range from 5.5 to 7.4[12]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -23°c, though it prefers milder winters[14]. A very polymorphic species, it is a very ornamental but slow growing plant[3] and there are many named varieties developed for their ornamental value[9]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[24][12]. A good bee plant[2]. Plants are very tolerant of being trimmed, they can be cut right back to the base if required and will usually resprout freely[3][18]. The foliage is pungently scented, especially when wet[15].
References
Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218
International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2
Knight. F. P. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-900629-78-9
Shepherd. F.W. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0900629649
Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 1987-00-00
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2