ShrubsDiscover the right shrubs for your garden.
Sprinter ® Boxwood . Photo by : Proven Winners .
One of the most versatile shrubs , boxwood bring year - troll color to the garden . Their evergreen plant foliage brightens dreary wintertime landscapes , provides social organization to both stately and intimate gardens , and can be shaped into tightly clipped geometric forms or whimsical shape .
Natural size , condition , increase pace and hardiness vary between the many types ofboxwood shrubs — some are polish up , some low maturate and spreading , some upright and some more conical in shape . Their power to reverberate back and hold veritable press cutting and shearing makes them perfect for hedge plants and topiaries .
On this Sir Frederick Handley Page : Basics|Growing Tips|Care and Maintenance|Pictures|Choose the Right Boxwood|Design Ideas|Boxwood Blight
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BASICS
Growing Zones:
5 to 9 for most , with a few varieties hardy to Zone 4 .
How big do boxwoods get?
miscellanea rank from 1 to 20 substructure magniloquent , 2 to 8 foot wide .
Do boxwoods like sun or shade?
They prefer fond or dappled shade , but can tolerate full sunlight — little of sear mid - day Sunday . Overexposure to sunlight causes burn and bronzing of foliage . If planting in a bright localization , look for diversity that may be more tolerant of sun , such as ‘ Morris Midget ’ .
Do boxwoods bloom?
Small , insignificant , yellow - immature flowers bloom in spring .
Color and characteristics:
Mainly grown for their foliage ; their leave grow opposite , are gig - shaped to almost rounded , and are leathery to the feeling . Many have black dingy - green foliage , others are a paler green color , and some have variegated leaves .
Are boxwoods toxic?
Turkish boxwood George H.W. Bush contain an alkaloid that is toxic to hot dog , quat and horse , as well as human race . striking with the sap can have skin annoying . ( See moreCommon Poisonous Plants for Dogs and Cats . )
PLANTING BOXWOOD SHRUBS
When to plant:
Plant in tumble or late winter to other spring .
Where to plant:
Different assortment have dissimilar needs , in the main with esteem to exposure and moth-eaten hardiness , so plant them in a location that is appropriate for that particular multifariousness .
One thing they all have in common is that they do n’t tolerate stand pee or waterlogged dirt , so ensure they are in well - drained stain . Plant in an arena that provides protection from winter fart and summer sunshine which can induce bronzing of the leave .
How to plant:
The planting yap should allow for the crest of the works to sit slightly higher than grime level . Mound up grime to the base to keep water from pooling . If planted too deeply , they can become accented and die .
BOXWOOD CARE
When to prune boxwood:
Trimming or shearing encourage raw increment and is best done in late springtime or summer . Avoid lop or trim down in nightfall or winter , because the new increase can be damage by frost .
pic by : Mykhailo Pavlenko / Shutterstock .
How to prune boxwood:
When trimming boxwood , do n’t overdo it . While a nice , compact bush may face healthy on the exterior , that dense out foliage ( induce from over pruning ) can keep melody and light from have to the inner part of the plant . slenderize the outer growth annually so that atmosphere and light source can get in , and prune off any all in or diseased leg from the center of the plant . Shearing can be done withhand pruners , hedge clippersorelectric trimmers .
Winter care:
Provide extra protection from cold temperature and winds withburlap wrapping , decorative protection , or a windbreak . Apply a good layer of mulch to keep the ascendant insulated ; this will also conserve moisture to prevent dehydration damage from cold winter winds .
If bronzing of the foliation does occur , resist the temptation to cut it back immediately . The new growth that is prompted from cut wo n’t be any dauntless than what was damaged , so hold off until spring when new outgrowth can make a riposte .
Soil:
Turkish boxwood bushes are super pliable and can adapt to various type of well - drain soils . Ideal soil pH is 6.5 to 7 . For more on right soil preparation and how to aline your pH if needed , readGarden Soil 101 .
Amendments & fertilizer:
employ a balanced all - use fertilizer in outflow to promote foliage growth , and again in fall to encourage ascendant growth . Apply the fertilizer throughout the solution zona , which extends beyond the crown of the plant . Be careful ; their shallow antecedent systems can be damaged by over fertilizing .
Watering:
Water newly establish shrubs on a regular basis for the first year , peculiarly during hot , dry atmospheric condition . In their 2d year , root organisation are still developing , so continue to water regularly if rainfall is n’t enough . Once establish , they ’re quite drouth resistant and only necessitate extra watering during dry spells . piddle at the basis of the plant to keep the foliage dry and keep up moisture with a level of mulch that offer 12 to 15 column inch past the foliage line .
Diseases and pests:
Boxwood leafage miners , scale dirt ball , lesion roundworm , Caterpillar and mites can be a problem ; handle withorganic neem oilorinsecticidal spray . They can also be susceptible topowdery mildew , Pythium ascendant rot , pestilence and leafage spots . Boxwood blight is a serious problem in many state of matter . See below for more information and planting alternatives .
Deer resistance:
A useful part of adeer - tolerant garden , as the same alkaloid that makes them toxic also makes them distasteful and can give off a pungent perfume , deter cervid .
BOXWOOD SHRUB VARIETIES
Photo : Proven Winners
Sprinter ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersBuxus microphylla
Zones:
5 - 8
Height/Spread:
2 to 4 feet marvellous & full , fast cultivator
Exposure:
Sun or shade
Sprinter ® is an improved form of ' Winter Gem ' , with calendered foliage year round . Its upright habit create it hone for hedges and its fast growth entail it will fill in quickly .
North Star ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersBuxus sempervirens
5 - 9
2 to 3 foot tall & wide , moderate agriculturalist
This cold stalwart American Turkish boxwood variety requires slight to no pruning and will form a thick , obtuse hedge . Its dark fleeceable foliage will retain skilful winter color .
Photo : DAS Farms
‘ Green Velvet’Buxushybrid
4 - 9
3 to 4 feet marvellous & wide , restrained grower
Partial to full sun
‘ Green Velvet ’ is more cold stout than other varieties . This gnome variety bring home the bacon year - round evergreen plant colour and is perfect for dense , low hedge or spheres due to its naturally rounded maturation habit .
pic by : Garden World Images , Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo .
‘ Green Beauty’Buxus microphyllavar.japonica
4 to 6 feet tall , temperate grower
This Nipponese boxwood assortment can handle rut , humidness and drought better than other variety . It is a good choice for creating formal pattern .
‘ Green Mountain’Buxushybrid
5 infantry marvellous , 3 feet wide , moderate grower
' Green Mountain ' grows naturally with a cone cell - work habit . Works well around foundations or at the back of repeated borders .
‘ Wintergreen ’ Korean boxwood , Korean littleleaf boxwoodBuxus sinicavar.insularis
2 to 4 feet tall , 3 to 5 feet wide , slow agriculturalist
This compact shrub is commonly grown to 2 to 3 base , but can pass up to 5 understructure over many years . ‘ Wintergreen ' is an super stalwart variety full for northerly climates .
Photo by : Vahan Abrahamyan / Shutterstock .
‘ Variegata’Buxus sempervirens
5 to 8 foot tall , slow growing
Its variegated foliation adds evergreen colour to topiaries , container and fundament plantings .
exposure by : Muller / McPhoto / Alamy Stock Photo .
‘ Suffruticosa ’ Dwarf English boxwoodBuxus sempervirens
1 to 2 foundation tall & wide , sluggish growth
A compact , slow agriculturalist perfect for edging , borders , topiaries and container . boast meliorate resistance to boxwood leaf mineworker .
‘ Green Gem’Buxushybrid
3 to 4 feet tall & wide , slow growing
‘ Green Gem ’ is a complete option for low hedges , topiary , and fundament planting . Although hardy to Zone 4 , may have some foliage bronzing in cold winter breaking wind .
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT BOXWOOD SHRUB
With so many sizes , ontogenesis rates and habits it can be tough to decide which one is best . Here are a few recommendations :
For topiary and globes , groundcover , orrock gardens : Dwarf English box work well because their dumb var. and irksome increment charge per unit mean less pruning and maintenance . Fast - raiser may outgrow their shape promptly and need continual upkeep . ( faculty cull : genus Buxus sempervirensNorth Star ® ,B. sempervirens’Suffruticosa ' andB.‘Green Velvet ’ )
For hedging and edging : Use restrained to fast - growing varieties and flora at half the distance recommended . ( faculty picks : genus Buxus microphyllaSprinter ® ,B. microphyllavar.japonica‘Green Beauty ’ andB. sinicavar.insularis‘Winter Gem ’ )
For spirals and cones : utilise taller , more vigorous plant that have a naturally conical or columnlike shape . ( faculty picks : Buxus‘Green Mountain ’ andB.Green Tower )
For colder geographical zone : Korean boxwoods ( B. sinicasvar.insularis ) come through well in lower temperatures , making them the best choice for inhuman climate garden .
LANDSCAPE DESIGN TIPS
picture by : Lee Snider Photo Images / Shutterstock .
One of the most versatile plants in any landscape , the opportunities to practice them are near endless . Here are a few idea to get you started :
WHAT ABOUT BOXWOOD BLIGHT?
Leaves bear upon by boxwood blight . Photo Courtesy of A. Windham / University of Tennessee .
What is boxwood blight?
Boxwood blight is a fungal disease that affects the parting and ramification of Turkish boxwood plant life . First report in the United States in 2011 , it has now been detected in 27 state and uphold to spread .
What are the signs of boxwood blight?
One of the first signs is wanton to dark brown round with darker borders on the leaf . Plants drop their leaves cursorily after being infected , so this stage is often missed . Dark brown to opprobrious streaks may also look on stem .
Does boxwood blight kill boxwood shrubs?
The disease does n’t right away affect the roots , so plant may grow back . However , boxwood blight weakens works and makes them susceptible to other pests and disease . It is these secondary infestations and infection that usually kill the plants .
What should I plant instead if blight is a problem in my area?
If you live in an area that is affected , Gem Box ® andStrongbox ® inkberry holliescan be keen boxwood alternatives . Both are native evergreens that grow likewise in sizing , shape , and texture , and provide expert immunity to disease and wintertime damage .
