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Glite Dictionary
Buxus sempervirens

Buxus sempervirens

9.1
An evergreen shrub or small tree gardeners use for hedges and neat garden shapes
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Buxus sempervirens
  • The formal garden was edged with Buxus sempervirens trimmed into neat shapes.

Examples

  • The slow-growing nature of Buxus sempervirens makes it ideal for long-lasting landscape designs.

  • The garden is lined with Buxus sempervirens hedges.

  • Gardeners often choose Buxus sempervirens for creating dense hedges and artistic topiary.

  • Many landscapers prefer Buxus sempervirens for its durability.

  • Gardeners often choose Buxus sempervirens for creating dense hedges and artistic topiary.

  • The formal garden was edged with Buxus sempervirens trimmed into neat shapes.

  • The slow-growing nature of Buxus sempervirens makes it ideal for long-lasting landscape designs.

Synonyms

box
vsBuxus sempervirens
33 7.3

A small evergreen shrub with thick leaves often used for hedges

is one particular species within that broader genus
boxwood
vsBuxus sempervirens
3 6.2

An evergreen shrub or small tree with small glossy leaves often grown as a hedge

is the living shrub used ornamentally rather than the harvested wood
common box
vsBuxus sempervirens
  • UK
6.3

A small evergreen bush with dense leaves often used for hedges and garden shapes

uses a formal scientific name rather than the everyday name
European box
vsBuxus sempervirens
  • UK
7.5

A slow-growing evergreen bush or small tree used for hedges and neat shapes

is the botanical species named in scientific terms rather than a general label

Surface Forms

Buxus sempervirens singular
Buxus sempervirenses plural

Morphology

Buxus + sempervirens

The binomial is compositional: Buxus (the boxwood genus) + sempervirens (literally 'always green' / evergreen) yields 'evergreen boxwood' — a species of boxwood that remains green year‑round. The epithet directly describes a salient attribute, so a learner who knows both constituent meanings can infer the MWE's referent without prior exposure.

Etymology

Buxus sempervirens gets its name from old words: Buxus was the name for the 'box' tree used to make small wooden boxes, and sempervirens is Latin for 'always green'. So the name shows it is a boxwood that stays green all year, which is why gardeners use it for hedges and topiary.