This was resolved by setting up a feature (thanks to Steven Watanabe):
feature.feature cpp11 :
on :
composite optional propagated
;
feature.compose <cpp11>on :
<cxxflags>"-stdlib=libc++ -std=c++11"
<define>BOOST_NO_CXX11_NUMERIC_LIMITS=1
<linkflags>"-lc++"
;
project
: requirements
<cpp11>on
# ... etc
;
Apparently this is the only way to get variables to propagate to dependent libraries.