Box has been an integral part of European garden culture for centuries. The evergreen tree is primarily used for topiaries and hedges. In our article you can read about the growth of the different boxwood varieties.
How fast does a boxwood grow?
Boxwood varieties grow at different rates, but on average 10-15 cm per year for Buxus sempervirens and 8-10 cm for Buxus microphylla. The fast-growing varieties 'Handsworthiensis' and 'Rotundifolia' reach 20-25 cm/year and the slow-growing ones 'Blauer Heinz' and 'Elegantissima' only 4-6 cm/year.
How long does a boxwood take to grow?
Basically, all boxwoods - the species Buxus sempervirens and Buxus microphylla are mainly planted in this country - are slow-growing trees. The average growth per year for the common boxwood is only ten to 15 centimeters, although some varieties such as 'Handworthensis' can grow up to 25 centimeters per year.
The small-leaved or Japanese box is even slower, with average values of around eight to ten centimeters. The popular varieties of Buxus sempervirens 'Blauer Heinz' and 'Elegantissima', on the other hand, have a particularly low growth rate, growing on average only four to six centimeters per year.
How high can a boxwood grow?
Like so many slow-growing trees, boxwoods can get very old, provided they are not attacked by diseases or pests. The native species Buxus sempervirens can reach a height of up to eight meters, but it takes around 100 years to do so. On average, a realistic growth height of this species is around two to four meters with a realistic growth width of between two and 3.5 meters.
However, some varieties remain significantly smaller: the dwarf variety 'Herrenhausen' does not even reach a height of one meter and is therefore primarily planted as a bed border, in pots or as a ground cover. Even the tried and tested variety 'Blauer Heinz' doesn't get any taller. The bushy growing 'Elegantissima', on the other hand, grows slightly taller at up to 150 centimeters.
Which boxwood grows fastest?
The variety 'Handsworthiensis' of the species Buxus sempervirens has the fastest growth. With growth of up to 25 centimeters per year, it is still slow, but significantly faster than other boxwoods. This variety reaches a height of up to 300 centimeters and can be up to 200 centimeters wide.
The 'Rotundifolia' variety also grows up to 20 centimeters per year and can grow slightly larger with a possible height of up to 400 centimeters and a width of up to 300 centimeters. The so-called tall boxwood (Buxus sempervirens var. arborescens), on the other hand, achieves an average growth of between 10 and 30 centimeters per year, depending on the location and climatic conditions.
Does pruning damage the growth of the boxwood hedge?
With such slow growth, it is understandable that some people are reluctant to trim their boxwood hedges. In fact, you should prune carefully and carefully to avoid mistakes - these may take many years to grow back. Nevertheless, the box should be pruned regularly to stimulate shoot growth and keep it in shape. Only regular pruning ensures dense and compact growth.
Tip
Can you influence the growth of the boxwood?
Some people may also be tempted to influence the slow growth of the boxwood with more frequent fertilization. Caution: This can easily result in over-fertilization, which weakens the tree and makes it susceptible to diseases and fungi.
