Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

Medieval times extracts used for gout, rheumatism, skin disorders and malaria. In ancient Greece used for woulds, jaundice and intoxication (Dioscorides).
Wink, Michael & Ben-Erik van Wyk (2008). Mind-Altering and Poisonous Plants of the World. Timber Press p.73

Other use

Wood is hardest of British trees. Used in rulers, musical instruments, inlay since ancient Egyptians (combs, flutes, furniture, lyres)
Mabberley, D.J. (1997) The Plant Book, ed.2, Cambridge University Press p.110

The use of box to make topiary hedges and sculptures 'is said to have originated with an acquaintance of Julius Caesr'.
Montague-Drake, Blair. (1977). A Biblical Herbal. Earth Images, Australia. p.35

Toxicity

All parts of the plant are poisonous, especially the leaves and bark.
Plants for a Future (2015) at www.plantsforafuture.org.uk http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Buxus+sempervirens link

Contact with the sap may cause skin irritation. Ingestion causes vomiting and diarrhoea. Poisonous to animals.
Professor Anthony Dayan, 2022

Geographical distribution

  • Africa, Northern Africa, Algeria
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Libya
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Morocco
  • Asia-Temperate, Caucasus, Transcaucasus
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Iran
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Turkey
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Austria
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Belgium
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Germany
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Switzerland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Portugal
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

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Buxus sempervirens L.

Family: BUXACEAE
Genus: Buxus
Species: sempervirens L.
Common names: Common Box
Distribution summary: S.W.Eurasia, N.Africa
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Habitat: Deciduous woods, scrub, hedgerows, calcareous woods
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Poisons garden (PETO), Europe & Mediterranean (E)
Flowering months: April, May
Reason for growing: Medicinal, toxic


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