Box

About the Tree 

Buxus sempervirens from the Family : Buxaceae
The Box tree only grows naturally only in chalk and limestone areas. A very dense small-leaved
native evergreen, with dark green glossy, leathery leaves which give off an unusual sweet smell.
Small tufty yellow flowers appear from late winter. It is slow slow growing and shade tolerant.

About the Wood

Excellent suitability for carving. Boxes are commonly used for hedges and topiary, and the dense
wood. Boxwood is often used for chess pieces. Wooden chess sets almost always use boxwood for
the white pieces and commonly use stained boxwood for the black pieces.

Box is twice as hard as Oak as it has a very fine, close uniform grain (as fine as Ebony) and does
not warp. Its density makes it also a very heavy wood and when it is green it will sink in water.