diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
index 9bbda6f62fa5..f69fb6649982 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
@@ -3062,8 +3062,7 @@ def boxplot(self, x, notch=False, sym=None, vert=True, whis=1.5,
             if sym == '':
                 # blow away existing dict and make one for invisible markers
                 flierprops = dict(linestyle='none', marker='',
-                    markeredgecolor='none',
-                    markerfacecolor='none')
+                    color='none')
                 # turn the fliers off just to be safe
                 showfliers = False
             # now process the symbol string
@@ -3076,12 +3075,10 @@ def boxplot(self, x, notch=False, sym=None, vert=True, whis=1.5,
                     flierprops['marker'] = marker
                 # if we have a color, use it
                 if color is not None:
-                    flierprops['color'] = color
                     # assume that if color is passed in the user want
                     # filled symbol, if the users want more control use
                     # flierprops
-                    flierprops['markeredgecolor'] = color
-                    flierprops['markerfacecolor'] = color
+                    flierprops['color'] = color
 
         # replace medians if necessary:
         if usermedians is not None:
@@ -3320,9 +3317,7 @@ def bxp(self, bxpstats, positions=None, widths=None, vert=True,
             final_whiskerprops.update(whiskerprops)
 
         # set up the default flier properties
-        final_flierprops = dict(linestyle='none', marker='+',
-                    markeredgecolor='b',
-                    markerfacecolor='none')
+        final_flierprops = dict(linestyle='none', marker='+', color='blue')
 
         # flier (outlier) properties
         if flierprops is not None:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/baseline_images/test_axes/boxplot_mod_artists_after_plotting.png b/lib/matplotlib/tests/baseline_images/test_axes/boxplot_mod_artists_after_plotting.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..6228c10559d3
Binary files /dev/null and b/lib/matplotlib/tests/baseline_images/test_axes/boxplot_mod_artists_after_plotting.png differ
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
index 1e9ed41fc245..aa9f9a7d703f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
@@ -1629,6 +1629,18 @@ def test_boxplot_bad_ci_2():
                   conf_intervals=[[1, 2], [1]])
 
 
+@image_comparison(baseline_images=['boxplot_mod_artists_after_plotting'],
+                  remove_text=True, extensions=['png'],
+                  savefig_kwarg={'dpi': 40})
+def test_boxplot_mod_artist_after_plotting():
+    x = [0.15, 0.11, 0.06, 0.06, 0.12, 0.56, -0.56]
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+    bp = ax.boxplot(x, sym="o")
+    for key in bp:
+        for obj in bp[key]:
+            obj.set_color('green')
+
+
 @image_comparison(baseline_images=['violinplot_vert_baseline'],
                   extensions=['png'])
 def test_vert_violinplot_baseline():