Plotwright
Home
›
Catalog
›
Common boxwood
Habit (mature) · MPF / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5
Limited coverage
Common boxwood
Buxus sempervirens
The classic broadleaf-evergreen shrub of formal hedges, topiary, and clipped borders — small, glossy dark-green opposite leaves on a dense rounded frame that takes shearing better than almost any other shrub. Native to southern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa, it carries inconspicuous greenish-cream spring flowers and holds its leaves year-round. All parts are toxic if eaten and the foliage can cause skin irritation, but that same chemistry makes it reliably rabbit- and deer-resistant.
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: narrow (38/100)
Structure
Border
Focal point
Light
Full sun / Part sun / Part shade
Water
Moderate water
Mature size
60-180" tall · 36" apart
Hardy in zones
5a-8b
very cold to frosty winters
Summer heat range
Cool-Warm
cool to warm summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
No
Related products
Sponsored
Watering and irrigation
Watering cans, soaker hoses, drip kits, moisture meters, and timers.
Search watering and irrigation on Amazon →
Wildlife protection
Bird netting, deer fencing, rabbit guards, trunk guards, and crop covers.
Search wildlife protection on Amazon →
Transplanting and establishment
Trowels, transplant spades, starter fertilizer, root stimulators, and watering bags.
Search transplanting and establishment on Amazon →
Drainage and aeration
Perlite, pumice, raised-bed mix, aerators, and drainage-focused containers.
Search drainage and aeration on Amazon →
Pest and disease monitoring
Sticky traps, hand lenses, sprayers, disease-monitoring tools, and pest barriers.
Search pest and disease monitoring on Amazon →
Safety and handling
Gloves, eye protection, thorn-proof sleeves, and handling supplies for toxic plants.
Search safety and handling on Amazon →
Plotwright may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder records it as tolerant of rabbit and deer browsing, and notes that in full sun the foliage is more likely to scorch, bronze in winter, or suffer from mite attacks — part shade and wind protection help in harsh winters.
Climate notes
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
✓
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Where this plant fits
Suitable across 40 ecoregions — 34 climate-resilient through 2070 · 5 suited today · 1 newly possible by 2070. Best matches first.
Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests
›
Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests
›
Arizona Mountains forests
›
Blue Mountains forests
›
Canadian Aspen forests and parklands
›
Central Pacific Northwest coastal forests
›
Central Tallgrass prairie
›
Central-Southern Cascades Forests
›
Colorado Rockies forests
›
Cross-Timbers savanna-woodland
›
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/boxwood
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited — 18 source-backed.
Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder
Botanical research database
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY 2.5
Backs 1 field
Image
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
Plotwright
Climate-aware plant planning — every plant checked against your zone now and in 2050.
support@arteractive.co
Explore
Catalog
Collections
Regions
Wildlife
Futures
Designer
Timeline
Tips
Reference
Sources
Data & methods
For educators
Policies
Privacy
Cookies
Usage & terms
© 2026 Plotwright