Common Box (buxus sempervirens)
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£0.99
£0.99 - £16.50
Seed Prices -Sorry these are currently unavailable
1 gram (approx 74 seeds) £0.99
2 grams(approx 148 seeds) £1.75
5 grams (approx 370 seeds) £3.00
10 grams (approx 740 seeds) £4.75
25 grams (approx 1850 seeds) £8.90
50 grams (approx 3700 seeds) £16.50
Please note that these seeds require at least 4 weeks stratification before they will germinate. For a sowing date of March 1st this should begin before February 1st
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Box has been used for hundreds of years in formal gardens. It can be shaped to produce intricate topiary. It will make geometric shapes easily- very formal arrangements like knot gardens are increasingly popular.
Box can also be used to make soft shaped hedges that do not spread too wide and eat up space.
They are usually evergreen with the only drawback for some people is the relatively slow growth rate but this is more than made up for by the superb texture.
Box can also be used to make soft shaped hedges that do not spread too wide and eat up space.
They are usually evergreen with the only drawback for some people is the relatively slow growth rate but this is more than made up for by the superb texture.
Germination, Sowing and After Care Information for
Common Box (buxus sempervirens)
Box seeds have a relatively shallow dormancy within them, this requires a degree of patience to overcome and it is usually quite easy to get high levels of germination if the correct procedures are followed.
First place the seeds into a container and pour on warm water (not very hot or boiling) and leave to soak for 24 hours then drain off the water. Next prepare a free draining substrate into which the seeds are to be mixed, this can be a 50/50 mixture of compost and sharp sand, or perlite, vermiculite. The chosen substrate mix needs to be moist (but not wet), if you can squeeze water out of it with your hand it is too wet and your seeds may drown and die. Mix the seeds into the substrate, making sure that their is enough volume of material to keep the seeds separated. Place the seed mixture into a clear plastic bag (freezer bags, especially zip-lock bags are very useful for this -provided a little gap is left in the seal for air exchange) If it is not a zip-lock type bag it needs to be loosely tied. Then write the date on the bag so that you know when the pretreatment was started.
The seeds require a sustained cold period to break down the dormancy that is within them, this is easily achieved by placing the prepared bag of seeds and compost mix in the fridge (4 Celsius or 39F) for between 4-6 weeks. It is quite possible for the seeds to germinate in the bag at these temperatures when they are ready to do so, if they do, just remove them from the bag and carefully plant them up. Seeds that are ready to germinate will have become plump and soft.
At the end of the pre-treatment period sow the seeds onto a firm bed of good quality moist compost and cover with a few millimetres of additional moist compost. Gently firm this down and keep in a warm place, away from hot sunshine at between 15-20 Celsius. Germination should begin within 3-6 weeks. Seeds that are ready to germinate will be plump and soft, if they are not, the pretreatment is not yet complete or has been ineffective due to incorrect temperatures or incorrect moisture content of the pretreatment medium.
Do not expose newly sown seeds to high temperatures (above 25 Celsius) otherwise a secondary dormancy may be induced and the seeds will not germinate until they have been pretreated again. Germinated seeds can be planted in pots or plug trays in a good quality compost. Keep the seedlings well watered and weed free. Growth in the first year is usually between 5 and 15cm and and usually trouble free. Allow them to grow for 2 or 3 years before planting them in a permanent position.
First place the seeds into a container and pour on warm water (not very hot or boiling) and leave to soak for 24 hours then drain off the water. Next prepare a free draining substrate into which the seeds are to be mixed, this can be a 50/50 mixture of compost and sharp sand, or perlite, vermiculite. The chosen substrate mix needs to be moist (but not wet), if you can squeeze water out of it with your hand it is too wet and your seeds may drown and die. Mix the seeds into the substrate, making sure that their is enough volume of material to keep the seeds separated. Place the seed mixture into a clear plastic bag (freezer bags, especially zip-lock bags are very useful for this -provided a little gap is left in the seal for air exchange) If it is not a zip-lock type bag it needs to be loosely tied. Then write the date on the bag so that you know when the pretreatment was started.
The seeds require a sustained cold period to break down the dormancy that is within them, this is easily achieved by placing the prepared bag of seeds and compost mix in the fridge (4 Celsius or 39F) for between 4-6 weeks. It is quite possible for the seeds to germinate in the bag at these temperatures when they are ready to do so, if they do, just remove them from the bag and carefully plant them up. Seeds that are ready to germinate will have become plump and soft.
At the end of the pre-treatment period sow the seeds onto a firm bed of good quality moist compost and cover with a few millimetres of additional moist compost. Gently firm this down and keep in a warm place, away from hot sunshine at between 15-20 Celsius. Germination should begin within 3-6 weeks. Seeds that are ready to germinate will be plump and soft, if they are not, the pretreatment is not yet complete or has been ineffective due to incorrect temperatures or incorrect moisture content of the pretreatment medium.
Do not expose newly sown seeds to high temperatures (above 25 Celsius) otherwise a secondary dormancy may be induced and the seeds will not germinate until they have been pretreated again. Germinated seeds can be planted in pots or plug trays in a good quality compost. Keep the seedlings well watered and weed free. Growth in the first year is usually between 5 and 15cm and and usually trouble free. Allow them to grow for 2 or 3 years before planting them in a permanent position.
