A: English boxwood, Buxus sempervirens, is well-known to smell like a cat litter box. Asian boxwood, Buxus microphylla, doesn't have the catty odor. Unfortunately, the Asian species does not grow very fast. To remedy that, breeders have introduced English/Asian crosses like 'Green Mountain' and 'Green Velvet'.

Do Buxus plants smell?

box is one of those plants that only some people can smell-very funky to my nose. Some others are crambe, euphorbia, alcea. . . . I'd say take it back because it will always smell-to you.

What boxwoods smell like pee?

Of course, some of you Debbie Downers out there will insist on reminding us that the foliage of dwarf English boxwood (Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa') smells like cat pee.