*Photo of Richard’s serpentine hedge by* *Miranda Estes*

Boxwood is a timeless evergreen shrub we often culturally associate with English gardens, the Gardens of Versailles, or the Hamptons on New York’s Long Island, among other prominent historic and modern locales with lush, stately gardens. As a result, our collective Euro-centric minds may lead us to believe those gardens with neatly trimmed hedges and tightly pruned topiary plants are home to only English boxwoods (Buxus sempervirens and its cultivars). And some may still be.

But the popular shrub garden designers love to use is highly prone to a devastating blight caused by a fungus called Cylindrocladium buxicola. Boxwood blight causes these shiny evergreen plants to turn brown and defoliate. Warm and humid conditions help the blight to thrive and affected plants can easily infect healthy plants simply by touching leaf to leaf. Entire hedges can be wiped out as a result, often randomly and without discretion.

The good news is boxwood has over 350 cultivars from which to consider. It is thought to be one of the oldest garden plants to be cultivated by continental Europeans and Egyptians. As Rome conquered Europe, they brought with them salt, viaducts, roads, and boxwoods. Culturally they were intertwined with the art and craft of their day as their dense hard wood was commonly used to fabricate musical instruments, engravings, and boxes.

Migrating back to today’s modern gardens and culture, boxwood remains a favorite with our designers and clients alike. The versality, structure, and seasonality they bring to any garden is unrivaled. Boxwood’s timeless nature works well in any garden typology, from cottage to contemporary, and does so with a regal yet humble quality that complements the plants and spaces it inhabits. Whether utilized as a hedge, stand-alone specimen, formal parterre, container grouping, topiary, or undulating cloud-effect mass, boxwood has stood the test of time as a welcome complement to any garden scene.

How have we avoided the blight epidemic and continued to include this plant in our garden designs?

Our boxwood of choice is Korean boxwood, Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Wintergreen’ or Wintergreen boxwood, a variety that has performed well and withstood blight. With their more open habit than their relative, the English boxwood, they are less hospitable to the disease and still exude the characteristics we have come to expect from boxwood.

They are extremely adaptable in a wide climate hardiness range (USDA zone 4a-9a)
They can tolerate sun, partial shade, and shaded aspects (but prefer approximately four plus hours of direct sunlight for optimal growth and health)
They grow in a variety of soil types, including clay, loam, sand and chalk, which is useful in the PNW.
Once established, they have average-to-below-average water needs, making them ideal for our variable climatic conditions
They are deer and rabbit resistant, which is critical for many of our Eastside and Island clients that battle this pressure regularly.
With the name ‘Wintergreen’ they tend not to turn a bronze color in the winter like some other boxwood cultivars
Korean boxwood grows slowly and can tolerate shearing if preferred. Pruning should occur after the last spring frost date to avoid new shoots being damaged.
Small insignificant flowers will attract bees in the April for pollination. The non-edible fruit is a small unnoticeable seed capsule.
Maintenance is a personal preference. Shear to shape or allow to grow into a less-formal round shape that provides texture and form to your garden.
Although a tried-and-true garden favorite, boxwood is toxic to our pets including dogs, cats, and horses. Consideration should be given to locations and risks.

If you are thinking you would really like boxwood in your garden, remember that there are alternatives that can meet your expectations, and be on the lookout for varieties that flourish and others that do not. As Richard mentioned in his March blog,

“When learning about plants in person, studying isolated juveniles of trendy cultivars in retail nurseries is not that useful - instead, visit locations with established specimens and plant communities like arboreta, public gardens, or the gardens of experienced makers. Best of all, grow plants yourself, removing ones that fail to thrive.” — Richard Hartlage

And you can always ask us.

Timeless Boxwood