The common boxwood is usually referred to simply as boxwood and belongs to the genus of the same name. This evergreen little tree is mainly used as an ornamental shrub, but is also occasionally still found in the wild.
Occurrence and cultivation of boxwood
The boxwood is characterized by a dense and widely branched foliage, which is why it can be used not only as a shrub, but also as a whole hedge. In principle, the boxwood can reach a height of up to eight meters, but mostly in the trope. In this country, it usually thrives shrub-like up to a height of four to five meters and this comparatively slowly. It is native mainly to southwestern and central Europe, as well as western Asia and northern Africa. The box tree is evergreen. The boxwood is characterized by a dense and widely branched foliage, which is why it can be used not only as a shrub, but also as a whole hedge. Because it grows so densely, it serves excellently as a screen and is also robust and very easy to care for. The leaves of the boxwood are elongated to oval and dark green with a light green underside. Between March and June, it develops fragrant flower clusters that produce lots of pollen and nectar, making boxwood very attractive to bees. From the end of August, the fruit capsules of the shrub begin to split and then scatter small black seeds, which are picked up and spread by ants. Thus, boxwood is one of the few native shrubs whose seed dispersal occurs via ants (myrmechory).
Effect and application
Boxwood is a popular ornamental plant and can be used in many ways, whether as a single ornamental tree, as a hedge, as a screen or even as an artfully cut figure. Due to its dense foliage, the figures appear very symmetrical and without gaps as with hardly any other plant. Especially in splendidly designed gardens in Renaissance and Baroque style, the boxwood shows all its skills as an ornamental plant. Thus, it can still be seen in large numbers in famous palace gardens. Unpruned, it can reach a height of up to ten meters, making it very decorative for any park or large garden. With the right pruning, it can be artfully cut into animal shapes, sculptures, columns or even spheres. Boxwood is very decorative when planted in terracotta pots, cut into a ball and placed in front of driveways or front doors with a second, identically cut plant. In this way, it contributes to a neat and Mediterranean-like appearance. Because it has exceptional symmetry and is therefore eminently malleable, it forms a wonderful way to combine modern architectural style with classic elements of garden design. If planted in a row, it can develop as a dense hedge with a height of one to one and a half meters. Nevertheless, some patience is necessary, because boxwood grows much slower than other hedge plants – but the wait pays off, because amateur gardeners are rewarded with an evergreen hedge that always grows densely. If the location of the boxwood is not too dry, it can even be cultivated as an understory in shadier places. If hedges with a lower height or flat borders for beds and paths are to be created, then the variety Buxus sempervirens suffruticosa is best suited. This species reaches a maximum height of 50 centimeters and grows up to 30 centimeters wide. But the boxwood can also serve decorative purposes outside the garden: Its beautiful evergreen leaves can be wonderfully used as table decorations in the form of garlands or for Christmas door wreaths or Advent wreaths. Once people also made wreaths from it in honor of the winter solstice and put them on their heads, as they are said to bring good luck.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
The boxwood contains many valuable ingredients, such as essential oils, alkaloids or even vitamin C. It is also considered in a sense as a medicinal plant and can be used, among other things, in fever or liver disease, both internally and externally. Important: In the boxwood, more precisely in the root and in the leaves, alkaloids such as buxin are contained, which in higher doses are very toxic for animals and humans. Because of this, boxwood cannot be ingested as easily as other plants, yet it can be used for compresses, hand or foot baths, and skin conditions, for example.In rheumatism, it is analgesic in the form of compresses. A few decades ago, when natural medicine was more pronounced, because the supply of chemically produced drugs was still relatively limited, boxwood was often used as a tea infusion for fever. For this purpose, two teaspoons of the leaves were taken and poured over a liter of hot water. With one cup per day, this was said to effectively reduce fever. Although boxwood plays a major role in natural medicine as a medicinal plant and can often have a very positive effect on various ailments, in no case should you use components of the plant without first consulting a doctor. He can give exact information about which components of the tree may be used internally or externally. The symptoms of poisoning by the boxwood are vomiting, diarrhea, an overexcitability and convulsions. In addition, if the poisoning is severe, paralysis or even death from respiratory paralysis may occur, but this usually only happens if the plant is used incorrectly.
