Buxus sempervirens 'ELEGANTISSIMA' variegated English box
size/type
medium-sized shrub,medium-sized shrub
usual height
1-1,5m
usual width
0,5-1m
leaves
evergreen broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
insignificant or non-blooming
location
full to partial sun
soil type
neutral to alkaline
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist (dislikes drought)
USDA zone (lowest)
5 (down to -29°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
English box is a well-known and popular evergreen shrub, used in both town and country gardens. Unless you grow it for trimming into a certain shape it is absolutely a maintenance-free and reliable feature.
Description of the plant:
Elegantissima brings light and colour into darker places. It has richly varigated leaves, their margins are creamy white or almost butter-yellow. It is ideal to light up dark corners or highlight borders with other evergreen shrubs of only green colour. It mixes well with broadleaves as well as conifers. It grows moderately and does not make a regular shape so if you want to have it compact trim it in April (for density) and clip it again in mid-summer (for shape). It withstands hard pruning if done in the spring and followed by heavy fertilizing.
It adapts to almost any soil provided it is well-drained, but looks best in fertile, moist, slightly acidic soil and partial shade. Box can live happily in full sun if well mulched. This varigated form is fully hardy to -24°C (USDA zone 6) and can survive temporary spells down to -29°C if grown in winter shade.
Last update 21-01-2008; 27-11-2011
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