Buxus balearica Lam. Balearic Box
Native to the Balearic Islands and south-west Spain, grown in gardens in south Europe, occasionally elsewhere. Height to 10m (30ft) in the wild but often small and shrubby. Flowers open in May about 1.2cm (½in), males clustered around females, which are therefore difficult to see. Fruits have 3 two-horned cells and are about 1.2cm (½in), green to start with, becoming brown and woody. They fall from the trees in August/September and split open from the centre to release their seeds. Leaves larger and brighter green and more even than Common Box (B. sempervirens). Z8.