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Products > Myrsine africana   Myrsine africana - African Boxwood     [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Shrub Family: Myrsinaceae Origin: South Africa (Africa) Evergreen: Yes Red/Purple Foliage: Yes Flower Color: Insignificant Bloomtime: Not Significant Height: 6-8 feet Width: 4-5 feet Exposure: Sun or Shade Summer Dry: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F May be Poisonous  (More Info): Yes Myrsine africana (African Boxwood) - This is a tough slow growing evergreen shrub that forms a dense upright shrub to 4 to 7 feet tall and 5 feet wide with upright stems bearing tightly overlapping small dark green rounded leaves, with the upper edges slightly cut with fine teeth. Older leaves are leathery and dark green and stems a gray color but new growth, both stems and leaves, have a deep red coloration. In spring appear tiny cream colored flowers at the base of the leaves. A dioecious plant with insignificant flowers - a bit more conspicuous on male plants and berries on female plants - our cutting grown selection is male and we have never seen the berries. Plant in sun or part shade. It is drought tolerant and hardy to about 20 degrees F. A very nice plant for small hedges. This plant has a wide distribution from Asia west as far as the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean south to southern Africa where it is common in both the summer and winter rainfall areas. The name Myrsine is from the Greek name for the similar looking Myrtle. This plant was cultivated as early as 1691 in England and was introduced in cultivation in California by Dr. Francisco Franceschi.  The information on this page is based on research conducted in our nursery library and from online sources as well as from observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery's garden and in other gardens that we have visited. We have also incorporated comments received from others and always appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have some additional information, particularly if this information is contrary to what we have written or includes additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing  Myrsine africana.