diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
index 7301c2c93157..32b565218ad0 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
@@ -2923,7 +2923,7 @@ def boxplot(self, x, notch=False, sym='b+', vert=True, whis=1.5,
             The default symbol for flier points.
             Enter an empty string ('') if you don't want to show fliers.
 
-          vert : bool, default = False
+          vert : bool, default = True
             If True (default), makes the boxes vertical.
             If False, makes horizontal boxes.