diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
index 5acd79c765c0..8bb104487702 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
@@ -3675,7 +3675,7 @@ def bxp(self, bxpstats, positions=None, widths=None, vert=True,
           positions)``, clipped to no less than 0.15 and no more than
           0.5.
 
-        vert : bool, default = False
+        vert : bool, default = True
           If `True` (default), makes the boxes vertical.  If `False`,
           makes horizontal boxes.