Buxusspp.
If you ’re look for a works that ’s terrifying for topiaries , great for hedges , and even attractive when left uncut , the Turkish boxwood shrub is everlasting for you .
A long - time favorite of southerly gardeners , boxwood have been grown in the States for C .
In fact , you ’ll find many of these shrubs produce on historic estates , including Middleton Place in Charleston , South Carolina , a National Historic Landmark and home to the old landscaped gardens in the US .
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What many people do n’t take in , though , is that there are multiple type of Turkish boxwood you’re able to grow – many of which are cold - fearless and can be cultivated by northern nurseryman , too .
With 97 species in theBuxusgenus and over 260 cultivars to particular date , according to the American Boxwood Society , there are , of course , certain variety that are more popular than others when it come to landscape gardening .
While many of these are only hardy to Zone 6 , some can live in temperature as dusty as -35 ° F ( that ’s Zone 3 , folks ! ) .
Whether you ’ve been putting off planting Turkish boxwood bush because you think your grow zone is too cold or because you consider these plants are too hard for a novitiate gardener to care for , it ’s time to give them a second look .
Keep reading to learn how to develop this beautiful shrub with gorgeous twelvemonth - rung appeal .
What You’ll Learn
\What Is the Boxwood Shrub?
Boxwood is a plant life that is used in traditional landscaping designs all over the domain .
It often grows to a mature superlative of 10 to 15 ft , bet on the species and cultivar .
But since it is so easily pruned , it can be grow as either a small tree or a widely - spreading shrub . It produces dense , evergreen foliation with leaves that are typically dark dark-green on top and a yellow - green underneath .
There are several species that are popular among gardener , including the common or American Turkish boxwood ( B. sempervirens ) , of which the English type is a variant , and the littleleaf or Japanese Turkish boxwood ( B. microphylla ) , of which the Korean type is a variant .
As their unwashed names suggest , B. sempervirensis what you will see produce most commonly in the US , whileB. microphyllahas notably smaller leafage and a smaller stature to match , generally only get to a ripe size of four feet by four feet .
This take a crap cultivar ofB. microphyllaa unspoilt option for gardeners with limited space . We ’ll cut through a few suggest varieties of both species in the cultivars segment below .
Both species grow lento , adding few than 12 inch of increase each year . While Nipponese boxwood lean to be more heat - broad , American box is often upright for northern growers who live in regions with cold winters .
Curious about the full term “ boxwood ? ” The reason for this moniker is quite dim-witted : The wood from these bush is well - suited for carving and woodturning .
It ’s often used for projection like making chess game composition , musical tool , rulers , and other small specialty particular . Quite literally , the name of the genus – genus Buxus – simply means “ box ” in Latin .
box shrubs produce small yellow - green flowers in the spring , but these are not usually noticeable .
They also bring about flyspeck fruit that check lowly seeds . While these are attractive to birds , they are n’t a major draw for most gardeners .
Instead , these shrubs lean to be grown for their calendered green foliage , which remain evergreen throughout the twelvemonth .
Cultivation and History
box are aboriginal to westerly and southerly Europe , and portions of Asia , Africa , South America , Central America , and the Caribbean .
As stated above , though other coinage are grown in garden in other parts of the world , it’sB. microphyllaandB. sempervirensthat are most commonly school in the United States , as they do not require tropical grow conditions to flourish .
These plants have a long account in finish . Ancient Egyptians planted boxwood in their garden and pare them down intoformal hedges as far back as 4000 BC .
And extremity of other culture used the Natalie Wood for making melodious instruments , rulers , and other small object for which large type of shrub and tree were not appropriate .
B. microphyllahas been civilise in Japan since the 1400s . Believed to be the result of hybridizing other species in the garden , it ’s unclear which specific species may have been used .
B. sempervirenswas first introduced into the US in the 1600s , after being brought by Anglo - Dutch merchandiser from Amsterdam to Long Island , New York .
Boxwood is unparalleled in that it is an evergreen mintage that can also be used in practice of medicine , with historical use in process atrophic arthritis , epilepsy , toothaches , and fever , especially in its native range in Asia and the Americas .
Curious about how to develop these shrub in your backyard ? Keep read to get word more .
Boxwood Propagation
There are three way you could develop a boxwood bush : from seed , from a cut , or from a started transplant . We ’ll deal all three methods below .
While it ’s sure as shooting possible to start from seed , a transplant is by far the easy avenue for a beginner nurseryman .
grow these shrubs from germ will take some time , as does root a newspaper clipping – but both are fun projects if you ’re willing to give them a try !
From Seed
First , you will want to buy a soilless mixture to sprout your seeds . Plants grown from semen are mostly less uniform than those grown from cuttings , and you ’ll postulate to first cold - stratify the come .
This necessitate exposing the semen to one to two months of dusty temperatures .
you’re able to do this by using a bit of emery paper to itch the coating of the seeds . imbue them overnight in strong water , then debilitate the come and place them in a fictile bag filled with damppeat moss .
Refrigerate them for about four to eight weeks at 33 to 41 ° degree Fahrenheit , look on the mintage , and ensure they neither dry out out completely nor become waterlogged .
Once they ’ve been cold - ranked , you may establish them about one - one-sixteenth of an inch deep in a large seed - starting bland fill with moist come - starting smorgasbord . They should be planted about three inches aside .
Cover the container with plastic wrapper to produce a greenhouse effect , and keep the soil moist by spray the control surface with a atomiser nursing bottle a few times a twenty-four hours .
Turkish boxwood seeds take a longsighted time to develop , up to six calendar month in some cases .
If you start them indoors towards the end of spring , or in a strong location like under a inhuman frame orin a greenhouse , plan to care for them there through their first wintertime .
They can then be planted out in the late spring the following yr .
When the seedlings look , you could remove the plastic wrapper and berth themunder grow lights .
you could also put the seedlings next to a cheery window , but a grow light will provide more coherent light and help prevent them from becoming “ leggy ” as they reach for the spark .
Water daily , keeping the soil moist but not soppy .
When the seedlings are about four inches tall , you may thin them out and transplant the strongest 1 into individual pots that are approximately six inch wide than the root ball of each plant .
From Cuttings
Many masses choose to maturate their boxwood shrub from newspaper clipping . Though not as mere as planting seedling or small shrubs from the glasshouse , it ’s still an easy option than set off your industrial plant from seed .
To do this , first you will need to obtain a cutting . Generally , the best sentence to do this is sometime in the late summertime to former fall .
Wait until after spring growth has harden up , then take a sizeable , strong branch with no signs of disease .
Take a press cutting that is approximately four to six inch long . Strip the leaves from the bottom half of the stem turn , then souse half an inch into powdered rooting hormone .
Place your cuttings about two inches deep in a potting mixture of equal parts compost and sand . Use a pencil or stick to keep the plant upright and stable .
The container you utilise should be at least four to six inches wide and equally recondite .
Then , put your cutting in an expanse that ’s warm and receives flock of sunlight . Keep the land moist , and cloud the foliage with a spray bottle once or twice a solar day to keep it hydrous .
After four weeks , check to see if your newspaper clipping have shape etymon . you may make up one’s mind this in several ways . Usually , if the film editing has n’t wilt and died by this full stop , there ’s a upright chance that roots are present .
You ’ll know the roots are strong if you may lightly tug on the cutting and it cling . If it remains firmly stuck in the dirt , you have roots .
If that ’s the pillow slip , you’re able to transfer them into large containers about two weeks after . you’re able to transplant outdoors in the spring .
From Seedlings or Transplanting
Of of course , the easiest way by far to grow a Turkish boxwood bush is to constitute a seedling or nursery transplantation .
Turkish boxwood shrubs can be grown in just about any scant condition , tolerating heavy shade to full sunshine . A blend of the two is best , ideally in a location that provides dappled sunshine or light shade with a few hours of morning or early afternoon sun .
Plants that are grown in full spook are generally less vigorous , while those grown in full sunshine are susceptible to leafage singe .
Dig a gob that is as deep as the root clump and double as encompassing , using the container the transplant came in as a guide .
Remove the industrial plant from its container and gently tease apart its roots . Then , come in it in the hole until you could see about two inch of the root clump above ground grade .
Boxwoods root shallowly and should not be planted too deep – the top eighth of the antecedent musket ball needs to be set above the territory grade .
After planting , water thoroughly , as this will help your industrial plant limit strong ascendant . Add two to three inches of organic mulch , which will help keep the theme cool and to maintain body of water .
How to Grow Boxwood Shrubs
Plant your Turkish boxwood in well - drain soil . Before planting , conduct a soil testto make indisputable your soil is mostly impersonal , with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5 .
you may add compost or other amendments as indicated by your grime test before planting , if necessary .
Water good and often if you welcome less than one inch of rainfall per week . you’re able to determine the amount of precipitation your garden has received witha rain gauge .
Fertilizing is not always necessary for these plant , but if a soil run determines that your filth is deficient in certain food , you may want to start a even fertilization schedule .
Boxwood plants , have sex for their foliage , are also prostrate to nitrogen want . If that ’s the case , you ’ll notice that your flora ’ lower leaf have begun to yellow or fall prematurely from the shrub .
you’re able to practice a liquid all - intent 12 - 5 - 9 ( NPK ) fertilizer in the other outflow , apply it generously around the base of the plant .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
These bush should be pruned to encourage leg development and to maintain a desired shape .
The serious time to prune is in early wintertime . Prune only small amounts , cutting off no more than a third of the works at one time .
If more widespread pruning is needed – for example , if your industrial plant is tolerate from a disease – you should set out by reduce large branches on just one side of the plant and then taking the other half the following year .
This will forestall you from overemphasise the plant when it ’s already trying to recover from another upshot or stipulation .
you could also thin out your boxwood shrubs to improve flow of air . This should be done once a class , any time when temperatures are above freeze .
you could read more about cut box shrubs here .
Mulching is a good estimate for most plants . Adding about one to two inch of constituent mulch , like pine needles , compost leaves , or true pine barque , out to the trickle line will help keep the soil moist and fertile .
Just stave off pushing mulch against the stems , which can lead to molder .
Boxwood Species and Cultivars to Select
When shopping for box species and cultivars to grow , think back that your growing zone will toy the freehanded role in your selection .
Here are the top two most pop species , with correspond recommended variants where applicable , and cultivar to choose as well :
Common
The American box , B. sempervirens , is the most vernacular species found in the United States . In fact , it ’s often referred to simply as mutual boxwood .
Often used in hedges , it can grow up to five feet marvellous and four infantry wide , giving it a somewhat squat appearance when bequeath untrimmed .
However , it can be form with Light Within trim during the winter menstruation when it is dormant .
One specific cultivar , ‘ Suffruticosa , ’ or English boxwood as it is commonly known , was first grow in the United States in the 1700s .
‘ Suffruticosa ’
It can extend to a ripe height of three feet and grow so slowly that it rarely command pruning , only putting on about an column inch of growth each twelvemonth .
With a cloud - corresponding riding habit , this type is hardy in Zones 5 to 8 .
gnome English box plants in # 1 container areavailable from Nature Hills Nursery .
‘ Calgary ’ is another prissy option with a summary drug abuse . And it can withstand freezing temperatures as well as summertime heat and humidity , in zone 3 to 9 .
‘ Calgary ’
Find plant in # 3 containersat Nature Hills Nursery .
Littleleaf
With a smaller overall height as well as smaller leaves than the common species , you ’ll see a few variants of this character , and breeder may choose to spell these on plant label in a variety of fashion .
B. microphyllavar.koreana , aka Korean box , is a littleleaf variety that is suited to zone 4 to 9 , crap it a good choice for northern growers .
It has a slow form and strain around two to three feet tall and four to six feet broad at maturity , with xanthous - light-green foliage .
Not certain which cultivated case to choose ? Look no further than ‘ Wintergreen . ’
‘ Wintergreen ’
This dwarf cultivar is incredibly versatile : It can be sheared into exact shapes , it ’s a popular selection for foundation garment and formal gardens .
you could chance ‘ Wintergreen ’ flora in quart - sized , one- , three- , and seven - gallon containersavailable from Fast Growing Trees .
A close relative of the Korean kind ( and a member of the same species ) , Japanese box is another democratic type .
There are a few different cultivars ofB. microphyllavar.japonicaavailable to home gardeners , but ‘ Winter Gem ’ is one of the most popular .
It serves as a smaller option to English Turkish boxwood and grows in a succinct style , usually only pass on two to three feet grandiloquent at maturity .
‘ Winter Gem ’
Hardy in zone 5 to 9 , this variety has inscrutable green leaf , and it can tolerate heavy pruning .
you could find out plants available in # 1 and # 3 containersfrom Nature Hills Nursery .
Managing Pests and Disease
box is an easy plant to grow , with very few pests or disease issues to vex about . Most can be foreclose with canonic care .
Insects
There are several dirt ball pests that are known to plague box shrubs , many of which are exclusive to this form of plant alone .
The box leafminer ( Monarthropalpus flavus ) is the most grave plague that may threaten the health of this plant . It can cause serious damage , lead to blistered , discolored foliage .
Technically a small fly , this pest can be control byplanting tolerant varieties , include most Japanese types , or using an insecticide .
take more about about controlling leafminers here .
Eurytetranychus buxiis technically aspider mite . It feed on the undersurface of leaves and causes jaundiced and livid spots .
It usually attacksB. sempervirens , with littleleaf types generally being less susceptible . Be thrifty about using too much high - nitrogen fertilizer , as this can increase the frequency of mite infestations .
If they do appear , get disembarrass of them with a harshblast from the hoseor use horticultural oil .
Cacopsylla buxi , sometimes referred to asPsylla buxi , is less serious than the two aforementioned insects , but it can cause cosmetic damage to your works – like poor twig growing and foliage cupping .
It lean to attack American Turkish boxwood most often , wreaking havoc in the leaping after overwintering in the dirt earlier in the yr . You will postulate to utilize insecticides to get rid of it .
mealybug , a number of metal money in the Pseudococcidae fellowship , are gainsay to check with insecticides , but you may get free of them with insecticidal soap , or a forceful attack from the hosepipe .
Not only can they weaken your boxwood plants by draining them of their energy military reserve as they eat , mealybug also excrete honeydew melon , a substance that attracts emmet , and can go tosooty mold .
see more about controlling mealybugs here .
There are several sort of nematodes that will go after Turkish boxwood plants , and these pests can make scrawny growth .
To prevent them from impacting the wellness of your plants , grow insubordinate variety likeB. sempervirensand be consistent with care by lacrimation , mulching , and fertilizing on a unconstipated basis .
Various coinage of scale , a sucking dirt ball in the Coccoidea family , that can cause untempting folio scarring may overrun your boxwood bush .
The pests look like tiny white bumps , and when you transfer them from your plants , you ’ll notice unripe scars that can not be removed in their place .
Fortunately , this pestilence does n’t ordinarily kill plant or cause recollective term effects beyond Earth’s surface - level cosmetic damage . If your plant suffer from an plague , you may snip away surface area that have been affected .
Find more information on check scale insects here .
Disease
Most disease of works in theBuxusgenus can also be prevented and address by come good tearing and garden hygienics drill .
Here are some of the most common culprits :
Boxwood blight is triggered by the fungal pathogensNeonectria pseudonaviculatumandCylindrocladium pseudonavitulatum .
The fungi have the leaves on the lower part of the shrub to prepare brown spots and twigs to imprint wound .
Blight can kill young plants , with littleleaf boxwood being the most susceptible .
you could limit the paste of this disease by cleaning all of your gardening tools soundly and destroy affected plant role .
Make certain your plant are thin and spaced properly for good airflow , and use a fungicide when necessary .
Leaf burn causes the leaves of your boxwood to plough cerise or yellow and come untimely . This physiological disorder is because of water stress and low temperature .
implant your shrubs in an expanse that is protect from wind and ensure they are water well during teetotal spells .
Leaf pip causes leaves to release jaundiced and become speckled with black .
A fungous disease caused byMacrophoma candollei , it can be forbid by protecting your plants from idle words and saltiness spray .
Boxwood Best Uses
While you might apply a boxwood shrub as a specimen plant , it ’s best used when grouped together in a foundation planting or in a hedge .
You might even debate using them as topiary , bonsai , or knot - garden plant .
you’re able to even cut your box for employment in vacation system like wreaths , kissing balls , Garland , and more .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Hedge Your Bets with Boxwood
If you ’re look for an ornamental shrub that can be arise as a small tree , a edge , or yes – to form a hedge ! – deal growing Turkish boxwood .
This plant is hardy , easy to develop , and provides garden interest in all season .
A practiced gardener never block learning – you ’ve get to keep working on that green thumb !
If you want to study decorative shrubsin the garden , take a peek at these helpful guides next :
© involve the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail . in the beginning published December 22nd , 2020 . Last updated June 8th , 2023 . Product photos via Nature Hills Nursery . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock . With additional writing and redaction by Allison Sidhu and Clare Groom .
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Rebekah Pierce
