I, Buxus tells the story of common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) written from a most interesting perspective: a first-person narrative by the plant itself! She (her chosen pronoun dating to Roman times) laments that “few people know about me much more than the fact that I make a fine garden ornament.”
Buxus, assisted by author Tomasz Aniśko, describes her book in the sub-title as A Cultural History of the Tree of Afterlife.” It is an engaging story.
She is very proud of the order she brings to a garden, “acculturating the unruly flowers” and is often found edging gardens of all types. Because of slow growth, she rarely outgrows her intended size. The use of boxwood for topiary dates back to antiquity and has been especially popular in European cultures since the Renaissance.
Groves of boxwood planted in cemeteries or surrounding sacred shrines is common in both Christian and Muslim traditions. While trees in the surrounding countryside might be harvested, those in these spaces are considered holy, and are let be.
The very dense quality of her wood has made boxwood very useful for small tools, especially those associated with spinning and weaving. Throughout the 19th century, engraved boxwood plates of plant illustrations, cut across the grain, were considered by book printers the equal, and for some purposes better, than the more common copper plates.
While Buxus is sharing her cultural history, she does not address the several threats – alas – to her well-being. Especially worrisome are the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) and the boxwood blight (Calonectria pseudonaviculata) that have devastated many of her sisters, especially in Europe.
How “I, Buxus” came to the Miller Library is an interesting story in itself. Sold only through a source in Poland, our initial inquiry asked for our patience while “our government resolves the temporary stop in shipping to the USA.” Fortunately, that stop was resolved and we received the book in about six weeks.
Because this book is scarce, it is not available to check out. However, I’m sure Buxus would appreciate you exploring her story in the comfort of the Miller Library on a dreary winter’s day.
Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on November 18, 2025
Published in Garden Notes: Northwest Horticultural Society, Winter 2026