Buxus balearica (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 3m
Eventual Spread: 3m
Hardiness: 8a – 10b
Family: Buxaceae
Buxus balearica is a slow growing, bushy, evergreen large shrub or small tree. Its dark green glossy leaves are elliptic with entire margins, up to 4cm long and 15mm broad. Its branches. Its trunk. Its bark. Its yellow flowers appear in small cluster from the leaf axils. Its fruit is a globose capsule and up to 15mm long.
Buxus balearica, commonly known as Balearic boxwood, Balearic Islands Box, Giant Box, Spanish Box, or Minorca Box, is native to southern Spain or north west Africa.
Buxus balearica Leaf (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
The etymological root of the binomial name Buxus is the ancient Latin for the Common Box (Buxus sempervirens). Balearica is derived from the Latin meaning ‘from the Balearic Islands’.
The landscape architect may find Buxus balearica useful as an evergreen hedging species. This shrub is also suitable for topiary.
Ecologically, Buxus balearica flowers attract pollinating insects.
Buxus balearica Bark (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
The Royal Horticultural Society has given Buxus balearica their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 2002.
Buxus balearica prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Buxus balearica requires little maintenance. Formative pruning should be carried out after flowering.