Faulkner box (small-leaved box Faulkner) care

Light

Bright but filtered. Faulkner box burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Performs best in dappled shade or part sun with morning sun and afternoon shade. Full sun is tolerated in cool, moist climates but may scorch foliage in hot, dry summers. In the UK, an east- or north-facing position is ideal for retaining foliage colour. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering faulkner box: weekly when young; every 10–14 days once established. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Water thoroughly to encourage deep roots, then allow the top few centimetres of soil to partially dry before re-watering. Mulch generously to conserve moisture. Established plants show reasonable drought tolerance but perform best with consistent moisture.

Soil and pot

Faulkner box grows best in moist, well-drained loam; tolerates acid, neutral, or alkaline soil. Adaptable to most soil types including chalk and clay, provided drainage is not impeded. Incorporate organic matter into poor sandy soils to improve moisture retention. Avoid heavy, poorly drained soils that encourage root rot. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Faulkner box sits happiest at around 40–70% humidity and -20°C to 35°C (-4°F to 95°F). Good air circulation around the clipped surface is essential. Although noted for above-average blight resistance, dense humid air still increases fungal risk. Avoid wetting foliage in the evening. Ensure clipped specimens are not grown pot-to-pot or pressed tightly against walls that restrict airflow. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed faulkner box sparingly. Feed with a balanced slow-release granular fertiliser in early spring. A second light feed immediately after the main summer clip encourages dense regrowth. Avoid nitrogen-heavy feeds after late July to prevent soft, frost-susceptible growth. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on faulkner box in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Box blight resistance not immunity — Faulkner shows improved blight resistance but can still be infected by Cylindrocladium buxicola in prolonged warm, wet weather. Maintain good air circulation, sterilise cutting tools between specimens, and avoid overhead irrigation. Remove and bin (do not compost) any infected material immediately.
• Box tree moth caterpillar (Cydalima perspectalis) — Caterpillars strip foliage and create webbing from inside the canopy; can defoliate a clipped ball in days. Check regularly from April to October; apply Bacillus thuringiensis-based spray or use a pheromone trap system. Remove egg masses from leaf undersides.
• Root rot in containers — Container-grown specimens are vulnerable to Phytophthora root rot if overwatered or if pots lack adequate drainage holes. Use free-draining compost mixed with 20–30% perlite, and elevate pots to allow free drainage. Reduce watering frequency in winter.

Propagation

Take semi-ripe cuttings 8–10 cm long in midsummer from the current year's growth. Strip lower leaves, dip the cut end in rooting hormone, and insert into a gritty compost mix. Root under cover (cold frame or propagation unit with bottom heat at 18°C); expect roots in 6–8 weeks with heat. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Faulkner box is toxic to pets. As a Buxus species, listed as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses by the ASPCA. Alkaloids (buxine) in all plant parts cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and lethargy. Bitter taste limits ingestion. Keep pets away from fresh clippings, which are more palatable when wilted. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Faulkner box deep-dive guides

Every aspect of faulkner box care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Faulkner box watering schedule
• Faulkner box light requirements
• Best soil mix for faulkner box
• Faulkner box fertilizing guide
• When to repot faulkner box
• How to propagate faulkner box
• Faulkner box growth rate & size
• Faulkner box cold hardiness
• Faulkner box temperature & humidity
• Is faulkner box toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is faulkner box toxic to cats?
• Is faulkner box toxic to dogs?
• Getting faulkner box to bloom

Featured in these plant shortlists

Faulkner box qualifies for 4 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
• Houseplants toxic to cats & dogs — The common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs — the ones to keep out of reach, each with its symptoms and a safe alternative.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Faulkner box is also known as Faulkner box, Faulkner boxwood, and small-leaved box Faulkner.

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