How to Identify Boxwoods
- Step 1. Observe the form of your boxwood. Some are tall and tree-like, others are columnar, some are short and grow into...
- Step 2. Measure your boxwood. Some boxwood shrubs are tall trees while others are dwarf, compact varieties.
- Step 3. Look at your boxwood's leaves. Some boxwoods have deep green leaves, while others are bright green or...
What does a boxwood tree look like?
Most boxwood shrubs have dense evergreen foliage consisting of small green oval leaves and compact growth. Boxwood plants have a variety of shapes, including rounded, columnar, and dwarf shrubs. This article is a guide to choosing the best boxwood trees and shrubs for your garden landscape.
How do I know if my boxwood is dying?
Firstly, if you see your boxwood is dying, you will notice that the middle of the shrub may be dead, or the leaves may be turning yellow or brown. If your shrub is diseased, the leaves can also be withered, discolored, or have brown spots on them.
What zone do boxwoods grow in?
Also called tree boxwood, the classic hedge plant represents the model boxwood. It is hardy down to zone 6 and a slow grower to a mature height of four feet. American Boxwoods (B. sempervirens) , often called Common Boxwood, is a perfect all-around group of plants that continue growing for up to 100 years.
How do I choose the best boxwood for my landscape?
Choosing the best boxwood for your landscape might seem daunting, but keep in mind your weather, the plant's exposure (full shade or sun, for example), and the shape or height you want for the plant's intended use and you are likely to find the perfect boxwood.
What are the different types of boxwood?
Common boxBuxus microphyllaBuxus colchicaChinese BoxBuxus citrifoliaBuxus vahliiBox/Lower classifications
What does a common boxwood look like?
This shrub: Features leathery, simple leaves that are a lustrous dark green color, persist year-round, are elliptic or oblong and measure ½–1. Works well for shearing. Adapts to many soil types.
What is the difference between American and English boxwoods?
English boxwood is rounded, and the overall shape of the plant is similar to a cloud. English boxwood is an evergreen and blooms during the spring. American boxwood, also known as common boxwood, is a small tree that grows to 10 feet in height, although some older plants can grow up to 20 feet.
What does American boxwood look like?
American boxwood is a classic, large-growing upright rounded boxwood. In an ideal environment, the plant will continue to grow for 75 to 150 years and develop into a massive shrub (sometimes as large as 15 ft. tall and wide or more).
What is the most popular boxwood?
15 Boxwood Types (The Most Popular Ones)Small Leaved Cultivars (Buxus microphylla) Grace Hendrick Phillips. Compacta. ... Japanese Cultivars (Buxus microphylla var. Japonica) Green Beauty. ... Korean Cultivars (Buxus sinica var. insularis) Nana. ... Common Cultivars (Buxus sempervirens) American Cultivar. ... Hybrid Cultivars. Glencoe.
What is the difference between Japanese boxwood and wintergreen boxwood?
Boxwood Plant Characteristics All parts of the wintergreen plant are poisonous, except for the ripe berries. Japanese boxwood's leaves also are leathery but are larger, more rounded ovals. During winter, the leaves tend to blush bronze, especially in cold temperatures and full sun exposures.
Do all boxwoods smell like cat urine?
English boxwoods tend to smell the strongest, though not everyone seems to dislike the scent. People often say English boxwoods smell like cat urine. However, many proud boxwood owners claim they enjoy the woodsy, resinous scent. Needless to say, there's no middle ground when it comes to the scent of boxwoods.
Which boxwood stays green in winter?
Green Mountain Boxwood: A Very cold hardy and stands up to heavy snowfall without damage. Green mountain grows in a pyramid shape up to 4 to 5 feet tall at maturity. Green Velvet Boxwood: A very compact and dense boxwood shrub. Typically reaches up to 3 feet tall and up to 4 feet wide.
Are boxwoods valuable?
If they are True Dwarf English Boxwood, they are valuable plants. They grow VERY slowly and really should not require very much pruning at all, left to grow in a tight globe.
Are all boxwoods the same?
There are two main kinds of boxwood used in gardens, as well as hybrids between these two main plants. The first and probably most important is the European boxwood, Buxus sempervirens. 'Semper-virens' means 'always-green' and this is an evergreen bush with small, round leaves.
Do boxwoods spread?
Mature Size. The common boxwood grows to a height of 15–20' and a spread of 15–20' at maturity.
Which boxwoods are round?
Rounded Shapes Some boxwoods form a naturally rounded shape and require little pruning. These include the "Green Mountain" Boxwood (Buxus x “Green Mountain”) and the "Green Velvet" Boxwood (Buxus “Green Velvet”). The "Green Mountain" boxwood thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9.
How big does the common boxwood get?
15–20'Mature Size The common boxwood grows to a height of 15–20' and a spread of 15–20' at maturity.
Do boxwoods like sun or shade?
The boxwood can be grown as a standalone plant, in groups or as a hedge. Furthermore, the boxwood has been used in containers, topiaries and for bonsai purposes. They can thrive in light shade as well as full sun.
What type of boxwood stays small?
Small-Leaved Boxwood The 'Compacta' cultivar, also sometimes called 'Kingsville Dwarf,' is the smallest boxwood variety. It grows very slowly, adding about 1/2 inch in height each year, and reaches a mature height of about a foot. Its leaves, at 1/2 inch long, are exceptionally small, too.
What is the most hardy boxwood?
insularis are considered the hardiest of all boxwood. Buxus semper- virens, common box, is hardy to zone 6 (Krussmann 1984) and has a greater stature than the preceding species. The large, dark green leaves remain evergreen all year.
What is a boxwood shrub?
Boxwood ( Buxus) is a group of evergreen landscape shrubs that are popular for hedges, foundation plantings, topiary, accents, and containers. Boxwood trees and shrubs are easy to grow in most areas and thrive in full sun or shade. Most boxwood shrubs have dense evergreen foliage consisting of small green oval leaves and compact growth. Boxwood plants have a variety of shapes, including rounded, columnar, and dwarf shrubs.
How tall does a boxwood tree grow?
The boxwood ‘Arborescens’ has oval leaves growing oppositely on woody stems. The boxwood tree grows between 15 and 20 ft. (4.5 – 6 m) tall and has an open spread. It is easy to prune the tall tree into a dense privacy hedge.
What is a dwarf boxwood?
The dwarf Korean boxwood ‘Nana’ is a compact, evergreen shrub with dense green foliage that keeps good color throughout the year. The ‘Nana’ boxwood cultivar has tiny spoon-shaped green leaves creating a lush, rounded shape. As a dwarf boxwood shrub, Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Nana’ is a slow grower, maturing at 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall.
What is a good hedge for privacy?
Many tall boxwood trees and shrubs make ideal privacy hedges. Tall, columnar boxwood shrubs have soft, dense foliage, creating perfect security and privacy screens. Boxwood hedge plants are also easy to trim and shape to create formal hedges, low-growing hedges, or privacy hedges.
How tall does a green velvet boxwood grow?
The hardy landscaping shrub thrives in most soils and light conditions. It grows 3 to 4 ft. (1 – 1.2 m) tall and wide.
How tall is a fastigiata boxwood?
As an upright boxwood, the ‘Fastigiata’ grows up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall and has a narrow spread of 2 ft. (0.6 m).
What is silver beauty boxwood?
The ‘Silver Beauty’ boxwood is a stunning hedge plant with brightly colored creamy-white and green foliage. The small, oblong, pointed leaves have a yellow margin and green center. This variegated boxwood has a pyramidal-rounded shape. The ‘Silver Beauty’ cultivar grows up to 3 ft. (1 m) tall and 4 ft. (1.2 m) wide.
What is boxwood shrub?
Boxwood ( Buxus spp.) are broad-leaved evergreen, deer-resistant shrubs that are typically used as foundation plantings and backdrops for planting beds, topiaries, and formal gardens. There are many species and cultivars available.
Why are boxwoods so poor?
Stresses from drought or excess water, excessive mulch, soil compaction, deep planting, the addition of soil over the root zone, and root injury from construction all can lead to poor growth of boxwoods.
What is the best soil pH for boxwood?
Boxwood prefers a soil pH of 6.5- 7.2 and a location with some afternoon shade. Sites exposed to full winter sun can cause foliage to “burn” and turn orange. Boxwood planted with a south or southwest exposure suffer winter burn more than plants with an east or north exposure due to increased sun exposure.
How long do evergreen leaves last?
As with all evergreens, some normal leaf drop occurs. The leaves remain functional for three years and then they are dropped.
When do boxwood mites hatch?
Boxwood mites are yellowish-green or reddish and are 0.5mm long. The yellow eggs overwinter on the leaves and hatch in April. These spider mites breed rapidly and have 5 or 6 generations each summer. They are most active in hot, dry summers. Injury shows as a fine stippling of the leaves early in the season, followed by a general grayish, dingy, unhealthy appearance.
Can you compost boxwood?
Do not compost infected boxwood material. Launder all clothing, gloves, and shoes, and sanitize gardening tools.
Do you plant boxwoods under the roof?
To avoid damage from falling snow and ice do not plant boxwoods under roof eaves.
Where is boxwood native?
This evergreen shrub is native to several regions including southwest, southern and eastern Asia, western and southern Europe, northern South America, Central America, Madagascar, Mexico, Africa, ...
What is boxwood shrub?
Gardens and Landscaping / Shrubs. Learn more about the most popular landscaping bush and discover the different types of boxwood that you can incorporate into your formal or informal garden for that wow factor. Also known as box or Buxus, boxwood (buxus sempervirens) is one of the most popular genuses in the Buxaceae family which comprises 70 ...
Why is it important to plant Korean boxwoods?
It is important to choose a place that gets partial sunlight and have wet, loamy soils. The evergreen foliage may need protection against desiccation – the absence of moisture during winters. Hence it is important to cultivate Korean boxwoods where they can be protected against chilling winter winds.
How tall do Korean boxwoods get?
Botanically named Buxus Sinica Insularis, Korean boxwoods are a broadleaf evergreen plant which grows upright for about 2 feet tall. As they mature, the shrub tends to become wider in shape rather than taller and produce an open-branch structure. Like many other boxwoods, they are a highly dense plant, covered with evergreen leaves.
How tall does American boxwood grow?
Also known as common boxwood, American boxwood can grow up to 10 feet in height; some of them can grow up to 20 feet as well.
How big do English boxwoods get?
The shrub is admired for its lovely thickly packed, light-green leaves which grow in a round form. The plant is able to reach up to three feet at maturity; however, different varieties tend to possess different growth size. With the help of pruning, all types of English boxwoods can be maintained. The roots of English boxwood are shallow and hence they must be protected against excessive heat.
How tall does a Dee Runk grow?
Oval in shape with dark green leaves, the tall plant has the ability to shoot up to 10 to 12 feet in height. This shrub can be used in an enclosed area in front of the house or the back area. The plant is the perfect choice if the owner is looking for full sun or partial shade.
How big do boxwoods get?
Sheridan Nurseries in Canada developed Green Gem and Green Mountain for colder climates. All of these varieties grow to average size, about 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
What is a boxwood shrub?
By Teresa Odle. Boxwoods (Buxus) are popular shrubs partly because they are so versatile in shape, size, leaf qualities and the list goes on. Boxwood varieties are perfect shrubs for forming hedges or showing off your pruning skills or even topiary skills on a single plant. Because they are evergreen, boxwoods make your garden look alive even ...
What is the shape of Jensen boxwood?
Jensen is another American boxwood but has a rounded shape that resembles some English boxwood varieties. Shape Jensen into a low hedge or foundation plant. Elegantissima has creamy white edges around its green foliage and does best with afternoon shade in zones 6 through 8.
How tall does a boxwood tree grow?
It is hardy down to zone 6 and a slow grower to a mature height of four feet. American Boxwoods (B. sempervirens) , often called Common Boxwood, is a perfect all-around group of plants that continue growing for up to 100 years.
How big does a baby gem boxwood grow?
Baby Gem Boxwood grows to only 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide, a perfect size for an accent or border in a small garden.
What zone is Elegantissima in?
Elegantissima has creamy white edges around its green foliage and does best with afternoon shade in zones 6 through 8.
Is boxwood salt tolerant?
Wedding Ring boxwood also is salt tolerant, so you can plant it near sidewalks or driveways. Green Pillow is a dense and compact variety that grows to just over a foot in height and 3 feet across in zones 5 through 8.
What is the family of boxwood?
ONE BIG FAMILY. Most of us know boxwood as a shrub, but in fact the family includes trees, shrubs, herbs and around 247 flowering species. Of these, the species most familiar to Westerners is Buxus sempervirens, otherwise known as common box. In America, Buxus is called boxwood. And in England it is called box.
Why are my boxwood leaves puffy?
You might have noticed that your boxwood leaves have little red spots and appear puffy. This is the work of Monarthropalpus flavus, or Boxwood leafminer. The tiny orange insect can be found swarming around plants in the spring. As soon as new growth appears, adult female leafminers insert their eggs into the undersides of the shrub’s leaves.
What happens if you blight a boxwood?
Blight will devastate your shrubs, turning them into an ugly mass of defoliated stems with black blotches. Because of this, many people are switching from susceptible English box, Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ to Japanese and Korean boxwood species. Many of these varieties are drought-tolerant and have good disease resistance. Moreover, they retain their dark green color all winter.
What causes boxwood blight?
That’s because boxwood blight produces leaf spots, stem cankers, defoliation and eventual death of vulnerable plants. Caused by the plant pathogen, Calonectria buxicola, it first appears as dark leaf spots surrounded by black circles.
Where is boxwood topiary planted?
And boxwood topiary, a practice that began in Roman times, still plays a prominent role in gardens across the world, including France’s Jardin d’Eyrignac and Prague’s lovely Vrtba Garden. Boxwood edging at Paris’ Luxembourg Gardens.
How deep do boxwood roots go?
Even on the largest plants, roots typically extend down no deeper than a foot. That being said, the surface roots can travel many feet beyond the drip line. As a result, it’s important to give the shrubs lots of room to grow. This includes avoiding planting anything directly underneath or around your boxwood.
Can deer eat boxwood?
For those of us on the East Coast, the fact that deer won’t eat it only adds to its appeal. There’s just one problem: it’s plagued by a bunch of pests and diseases.
What are the symptoms of boxwood blight?
When you look at the boxwood planted in your garden, check for the following: Leaf spots that are circular, light to dark brown, and with dark borders. Infected stems with dark brown to black, elongated cankers. Rapid defoliation, especially in the lower canopy. Leaf spots and early symptoms of boxwood blight.
What plants are good for boxwoods?
These include the plants from the Buxus family: Japanese spurge ( Pachysandra terminalis) Allegheny spurge ( Pachysandra procumbens) Sweetbox ( Sarcococca species) Keep these plants well away from your boxwoods to help reduce their ability to spread the boxwood blight pathogen to your boxwoods.
What is boxwood blight?
Blog Topics. Boxwood blight is one of the most common and lethal plant diseases seen in Northern Virginia landscapes. As the name suggests, boxwood blight is a disease that only affects boxwood (genus Buxus ). However, there are several common landscape plants that can host the fungal pathogen ( Calonectria pseudonaviculata) that causes the disease.
How to prevent blight spores on boxwoods?
To prevent the spread of blight spores, avoid pruning when foliage is wet. Increase airflow by pruning up the lowest branches on surrounding trees and large shrubs. Spread mulch around your boxwoods and maintain soil fertility to help keep your plants growing vigorously.
Why prune boxwood in a peaked form?
Prune boxwood in a peaked form (narrower at the top than at the bottom) to provide more opportunity for sunlight and airflow throughout the entire plant structure
Is there a cure for boxwood blight?
There is currently no cure for boxwood blight so homeowners and landscape professionals focus on ways to control the spread of this lethal disease.
Is Buxus sempervirens susceptible to boxwood blight?
The commonly used Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ is highly susceptible to boxwood blight. Thankfully, other boxwood cultivars have shown greater resistance to boxwood blight.
How to treat boxwood decline?
Treating boxwood decline starts with prevention (ensuring your shrubs are planted in well-draining soil and are watered regularly). When I spotted boxwood decline, it was already too late.
Why are my boxwood leaves turning yellow?
If you have a boxwood, you’ll notice that its leaves are green all year round. However, if the leaves are turning yellow or brown, it may be a sign that your boxwood is dying. Before you take steps to revive your plant, first rule out whether the brown or yellow leaves are not from diseases like a fungal infection, pests and the damage they cause, winter burn, or something else.
How Can You Bring Boxwoods Back to Life?
To revive dying boxwoods, you need to remove all the dead foliage and yellow or brown leaves. Prune the dead or infected branches, and especially those in the center of the shrub to allow air and light in. Water your plant well, and if needed, add mulch to aid in water retention or put up plastic or tarp for protection.
Why is my boxwood tree dying?
If your boxwood is declining it means that it is growing weakly and the leaves will discolor. Boxwood decline usually occurs because of stem and root diseases or improper planting conditions.
Why do I have boxwoods on my fence?
I have boxwood shrubs growing all along my white picket fence to provide some measure of privacy. The reasons I love them dearly are their ever-greenness and being incredibly hardy.
What to do if there is no healthy wood?
If there is no healthy wood, then you need to remove the entire branch.
Can boxwood be regrown?
Within time, your boxwood will recover but ensure you water it well and add sunscreen if the summer sun is too hot.
