Buxus microphylla Faulkner - Boxwood

Buxus microphylla 'Faulkner' is a variety of Japanese boxwood with small evergreen leaves of a dark and glossy green colour. It stands out for its naturally dense, compact and upright habit, making it particularly suitable for creating topiaries or small trimmed hedges. This decorative shrub, a symbol of French gardens and well-maintained mazes, is a timeless classic. Hardy and easy to grow in moderately dry soil, it grows at a slow pace without requiring much maintenance. Whether used in mixed or trimmed hedges, as a free-standing shrub, as a topiary or as a bonsai, it lends itself to every desire!

Buxus microphylla is native to Japan and was introduced to Europe around 1860. Like our common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), it belongs to the family Buxaceae. The 'Faulkner' variety has replaced Buxus rotondifolia in many public spaces and private gardens due to its increased resistance to certain fungal diseases. While it prefers partial shade and relatively cool environments, it can tolerate dry and chalky soils and is perfectly suited for repeated pruning. This shrub has an extremely dense bushy habit and grows very slowly, reaching approximately 1.20m (3ft 11in) in height and 1m (3ft 4in) in width at maturity. Its evergreen foliage, shinier than that of common boxwood, consists of small elliptical leaves with a dark green colour. During winter frosts, this boxwood may sometimes turn pale brown-yellow. The discreet, nectar-rich and fragrant flowering occurs in clusters of small greenish petals and yellow stamens, usually in April-May. Each cluster consists of a terminal female flower and several pendant male flowers. This flowering is followed by the formation of small tough grey-brown capsules containing numerous ripe seeds in late summer. Their scent attracts ants, which help spread the plant. It is not uncommon to find boxwoods that are 50 years old in family gardens, and in very old gardens, individuals over 500 years old can be encountered.

The 'Faulkner' boxwood is perfect for creating a small evergreen hedge or an original plant sculpture, if one has patience. It enhances every structure of the garden as well as neighboring plants. Annual pruning in June allows for a pleasant and abundant spring flowering. Boxwood is often used on terraces, in beautiful ceramic or stone pots, and in small gardens due to its high decorative value throughout the year while occupying little space. In kitchen gardens, it can be used to delimit areas for aromatic plants, different sections of a vegetable garden, or the area reserved for cut flowers. In a slightly wild area of the garden, under large trees for example, it will form beautiful bright bushes throughout the year, emerging from a carpet of Algerian Bellecour ivy for instance.

A legendary tree: boxwood has lemon yellow wood with a very fine grain and is remarkably hard. It is the hardest wood found in the northern hemisphere, second only to ebony from various species native to tropical regions of the old world. Symbolizing immortality, it has been used since ancient times for the quality of its wood: the Greeks and Romans used it to make wax-covered tablets for writing. Highly sought after by turners, engravers, and sculptors, it was also used to make various musical instruments, tool handles, and the mallet of masonic lodges, where it symbolized firmness and perseverance.