Buxus Sempervirens is one of the most popular species for creating perfect topiary. It is a large, slow growing, evergreen shrub with glossy, dark green leaves and small yellowish flowers in the spring. Sold in a pyramid shape, they can be grown and clipped to any shape you desire, or simply grown into a larger pyramid.

With an annual growth rate of around 15cm and an expected time to full growth of approximately 20 years, this hardy box hedging is perfect for formal city or informal country gardens and can be used to line or border patios, driveways or doorways.

Known also as Boxwood or Common Box, it is fully hardy in the UK down to around -15 degrees and is very easy to maintain. It should be planted in a position of full or partial sun, into moist but well drained, neutral, acidic or alkaline soil. Watch for box blight, leaf spot, box tree caterpillar, box sucker, mussel scale and red spider mites.

Propagate from semi-ripe cuttings in the summer and clip late into the summer for the perfect shaped topiary.