u ~ ULLETIN The journal of the American Boxwood Society devoted to our oldest garden ornamental
Vol. 55 No.2 Winter 2016 The American Boxwood Socilt"t]
The American Boxwood Society is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1961 and devoted to the appreciation, scientific understanding and propagation of Buxus. Visit our website at: www.boxwoodsociety.org OFFICERS MEMBERSHIP President: Annual membership from May. Dues paid after Jan. 1 to Mr. Hugh Crump Camerron, C April 30 are applied to the upcoming May membership. Dues First Vice-President: paid after May 1 receive partial year with no credit. Members M r. Ben nett Saunders Piney River, VA outside the U.S. add US $15 to any membership category. Second Vice-President: IndividuaL ...... $50 Sustaining ...... $150 M r. Charl es Fooks Sa li sbury, M 0 Family ...... $75 Life...... $1,500 Secretary: Ms. Laurie McMinn Madison Heights, VA Contributing ...... $100 International Registrar: Mr. Lynn Batdorf Bethesda, M 0 CONTRIBUTIONS Monetary gifts to the Societ y a re tax d eductible a nd m ay be DIRECTORS appli ed to: Mrs. Joan Butler (Life) Wi nchester, VA General Operations Publications Fund Mr. Walter Carell , Jr. (2016) C hestertown, MD Memorial Garden Fund Research Programs Dr. Bernard C ross (2 015) Waterford, VA HOW TO CONTACT US Mrs. Helen H echt (2 015) Westminister, MD For ordering publications, membership information, Dr. Edward M. Kelly (2017) Taneytown, MD address cha nge, contributions, questions, or submitting Mr. John Lockwood Makar (2016) Atlanta, GA an a rticle, please email or w rite: Ms. Laurie McMinn (2016) M adison H eights, VA Mr. Ron Williams (2015) Fishers, IN [email protected] Mr. Barrett Wilson (2 01 7) Kennett Square, PA American Boxwood Society Elizabeth Wislar (2018) Princeton, NJ P.O. Box 85 John Boyd III (2018) Roanoke, VA Boyce, VA 22620-0085 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mrs. Tooti e C. Rinker Stephens C it y, VA IN THIS ISSUE:
PUBLICATIONS Non-member Member Treis - Karden; Buxus in the Wild, Part 2 ...... 3 Boxwood: An IlLustrated Encyclopedia US$140 $125 Boxus in Free Nature, Parr 4 ...... 5 Boxwood Handbook (3 rd Edition) $ 35 $ 27 Boxus MicrophylLa 'Kingsville Dwarf' vs. 'Compacta' . 7 Int'l Registration of Cultivated Bu xus $ 5 Back Issues of The Boxwood Bulletin (each) $ 10 In Memorium ...... 9 The Boxwood Bulletin Index 1961-1986 $ 10 2016 Symposium ...... 10 The Boxwood Bulletin Index 1986-1991 $ 5 European Boxwood Society - France Invites You .... 10 The Boxwood Bulletin Index 1991-1996 $ 5 The Question Box ...... 11 H andling, first class postage and applicabl e taxes are includ ed in the price for domestic orders. Postage for international Be part of The BoxlVoof/ Bulletin! Submit an article, pho orders is actual cost (www.ups.com) plus US $3.00. tograph, question, idea or report of your own experience.
The Boxwood Bu LLetin (ISSN 0006 8535) is published by the American Boxwood Society, P.O. Box 85, Boyce, VA 22620. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the American Boxwood Society, P.O . Box 85 , Boyce, VA 22620
Page 2 The Boxwood Bulletin - 2015 Treis - Karden, Buxus in the wild part 3. This article is a contribution of the piece "Palmberg Buxus in Nature by Marc VeLleman, printed in our previous issue.
During rhe summer d ays of April 2011 , I had rhe opportuniry ro visir Treis - Karden, a vi ll age in Mosel, Germa ny. This pl ace is known as a place of wild growing boxwood. The German informario n service about rourism provid es a direcrory from which rhe "Buxus Parhway" has sign posrs ro follow. I received rh is leaRer (below) from Mr. Didier H ermans during a d ay-long Buxus consulrarion regarding Buxus research.
This indicates that the plants are not very old and are mostly grown from the same era. There is no trace of uprooted " Buxus Fields", which we can speak of a fai rl y uniform population at a bottom of loose, flaking shale. The present Buxus sempervirens varieties are similar For three days I searched for native populations of Buxus to the wild plants in Belgium with the following species on the mountain ridge between Treis - Karden characteristics: and Miiden. On April 8, I starred in Treis - Karden, A: Growth form: a charming village where the wine culture is present in - Tree shape abundance. The first parr of the walk is directly uphill - Pendula form and from the very beginning yo u walk among boxwood. - With a strong stem Soon, you rise above the village and you'll reach the first growing plants lookout point with a magnificent view over the village pendula form. and the Moselle. This mountain is also the lair of the "Holy Castor" the patron saint of the vi ll age church.
Further, the roure goes back and forth between a vegetation of mainly Buxus. The plants are usually on steep slopes and often exhibit the same characteristics: loose, strongly growing bushes with a trunk diameter of up to +/- 10 cm.
Page 3 The Boxwood Bulletin - 2015 With one tribe strong growing plants. 5 / Leaf: shape and dimensions: - Small leaves, ovoid +/- 4 x 9 mm 2 / Color: - Sized blade, egg shape +/- 6 x 12 mm with - A range fro m light green to dark green and blue occasional very pointed ends - Bicolor plants or sPOrts, I have not found. - Oblong leaves - Large round leaves similar to Buxus sempervirens ' Rotundifolia'
3 / Leaf surface: - From matte to high gloss. High gloss comparable to that of B. microphylLa . I use this equation des pite there is no substantial connection between the two Buxus species . T he B. sempervirens varieties are no A nice assortment of natural varieties within a ran comparable plants with such brilliance, the Buxus dom selection of a population of Buxus sempervirens in sempervirens 'Planifolia' after, but this has a totally a beautiful wine region with numerous histori c castles . different leaf shape. Even people who are unaware of Buxus, would agree there is a beautiful diversity which exists in Buxus sempervirens.
Did You Know? 4 / Balance Sheet:
- Symmetric and at an angle of 30 0 to 70 0 with respect to the stem The first boxwood planting in
- Symmetrical at an angle of 0 0 to 10 0 similar to America is believed to have Buxus microphylLa 'Roy Lancaster' and the plant-avail occurred about 1653 at Sylvester able commercially under the name Buxus harlandii. Manor on Shelter Island in the northwest portion of Long Island. They originally used English boxwood brought over the Atlantic Ocean from Amsterdam, where it was known as Dutch boxwood.
Page 4 The Boxwood Bulletin - 2015 Buxus in Free Nature, Part 4 Under articles ofR vernier: - Bulletin des Academies et des Sciences Societe Lorraine: 199635 No.3.
I have selecred rhe following places: Here you have a view of rhe village and rhe Moselle. Along rhe parh rhere are informarion boards placed Srarion 15: Sr. - Aldegund where quire read whar is on rhe boxwood. Buxus Srarion 14: Barh Berrrich popularion of rhese shale rock is prerry un iversal, a Two srarions in Germany, concarenarion of rhe common Moselle plants. Mosel region. For rhese locarions, I foresee a day rrip. There is a slighr haze in rhe early morning of November 6, 2011 ar Sankr - Alde gund inner row. Ir looks as rhough ir will be a wonder ful day. I park on rhe srrip berween rhe church and rhe Moselle.
Wirh jusr rhe name of rhe village in rhe pocker, I have ro look for rhe boxwood.
Afrer my experience in France where rhe boxwood is almosr underecrable, I sropped by rhe rourisr informa rion service rhar is hosred by rhe local grocer. Here one can obrain a brochure of rhe rrails in rhe area, and yes rhe wild Buxus is lisred! The route srans ar rhe chapel which srands ar rhe foor of rhe mountain. This mountain is rhe backdrop of rhe village. Afrer some hiking rhe boxwood is seen, and rhere is a good view of rhe sreep hillside rhar is lush. No wealrh of varieries, but a pleasant walk. In rhe afrernoon I used rhe same search merhod ro Bad - Ber Parr of rhe rrail goes along rhe edge, rhrough rhe rrich. Afrer about rwenty minutes I drove rhrough rhe Buxus popularion which is interrupred occasionally by village Kurfiirsrensrrasse (house # 10). The center is classical overlooks and viewpoints. pedesrrianized and parki ng musr be specially bui Ir car parks on rhe ourskirrs of rhe ciry. Parking along rhe srreer is reserved for residents and shorr-rerm parking. The only non-paying long-rerm parking are locared for rhis house 10 in Kurfiirsrensrrasse. This road runs berween a river and an imposing cliff rhar surrounds rhe village for more rhan half. Ir is rorally unnecessary ro ask for Buxus, ler alone seek. The rocks are full of rhem! The plants grow here as ir were on rhe srreer.
Page 5 The Boxwood Bulletin - 2015 T he soil consists here out of slate with a high iro n content. T he red color of the rock is taken up by some boxwood plants. T he leaves are dark - burgundy, a For the walk [ foll ow the mai n road through this nice deviatio n in terms of leaf color that is juSt here to cosmopolitan town, a health resort in the volcanic obse rve. Eifel. Almos t at the end of the street is a small church on the left. Behind the church starts a narrow path wh ic h quickly ri ses above the city, surrounded by beautiful old boxwood trees.
H ere one does not have to search for examples of wild Buxus with a diameter of 10 to 15 cm.
T here is almost no room for other plants. H ere and there there's a hole in the boxwood hedges, where one M eanwhile, I am so far followed the path that I am has a view of the beautiful buildings of this resort. on top of the mountain at the height of the low-lying road, where I entered the city. In this barren crags Such close contact of wild Buxus with a town I have Buxus grows in very difficult circumstances. never experienced on the previous locations. Higher up the mountain leads is more scattered in a deciduous T hese are usuall y the pl aces where there were differ fores t where the boxwood. ent Buxus plants. But at this moment I have no more time to investigate. I regret to begin the way back.
Page 6 The Boxwood Bulletin - 2015 Buxus microphylla 'Kingsville Dwarf' vs. 'Compacta' by Lynn R. Batdorfl In 1912, more than 100 yea rs ago, a new boxwood Two days later, on March 3, 1948, J. Frank Schmidt, clone was selected by William Appleby, a plant Jr., a disti nguished Oregon nurse ryman and an propagator, for Henry Hohman, owner of Kingsville honorary Life member of the AAN, replied for the Nurseries. Named Buxus microphylla 'Compacta', it AAN noting that the, "SPN denies use of 'compacta' was accepted for registration in 1965 by Dr. Burdette for this clone." (Figure 2). SPN is an acronym for L. Wagenknecht, the first International Registration Stabilized Plant Names of the 1STA (International Authority for Buxus. The validity of this cultivar has Seed Testing Association) Nomenclature Committee. been substantiated by both Dr. Bernice Speese, the second International Registration Authority of Buxus " . 1'< ¥ .. and Lynn R. Batdorf, the current registrar. ..
The test of time has proved this plant possesses superior horticultural merit. Its dwarf habit, insect and disease resistance have made it one of the most popular boxwood in the nursery industry, the bonsai and horticultural communities, and the general public. Based on wholesale distributions, it consistently remains one of the top selling boxwood. Yet, questions remain regarding its name. The chronic • ., 1 j nomenclatural confusion between Buxus microphylla 'Compacta' and Buxus microphylla 'Kingsville Dwarf' has initiated a comprehensive vetting process by the Figure 2 current registrar. In 1949, the Woody Plant Register List #1, On March 1, 1948, the American Association of Sponsored by the American Association of Nurserymen, (AAN) Inc. received a registration Nurserymen in a "Reprinted Proceedings of the application from the renowned plantsman and owner American Association of Nurserymen Convention" of the Kingsville Nursery in Kingsville, Maryland, which was held in the USDA South Building in Henry Hohman, for Buxus microphylla 'Compacta' Washington, D.C., July 18-21, on page 3 and 4, Buxus (Figure 1). microphyffa 'Kingsville Dwarf' was properly accepted for registration [Figures 3a and 3b] . The citation notes the AAN Registration #43 in 1948, deletes Buxus microphylla 'Compacta'. This is a significant determination.
It is likely Hohman's submission was slightly confused by the poor options on the registration card itself. It appears to be submitted as, "Buxus microphylla compacta, Kingsville Dwarf Boxwood." without clearly indicating which of the names he Figure 1 preferred. The AAN registrar then checked and
Page 7 The Boxwood Bulletin - 2015 determined that 'Compacta' was not all owed leaving ' Kingsv ille Dwarf' as a n acceptable alternative. 'KIO 'vIlle Dwarf I it d by D \ 'ym n in m Pres umabl y, this was disc ussed with H ohma n before erlcan ' u r 'm n J I 7 r 7 : 50. 1963 to n I ym of B. 11 lCTopllylla 'Camp eta' I being finally accepted and published in 1949 (figure 3a a nd b). Figure 5
Further, Wagenknecht ci ted the popula r article, "Boxwood Prized Wherever H a rdy Form is Found" Figure 3a by Donald W yman in the April I , 1963 iss ue of American Nurseryman [Figure 6]. W yman described the boxwood as Buxus microphyLla 'Compacta'. Wagenknecht was sil ent on the earlier 1949 Figure 3b registration of ' Kingsville Dwarf' by the AAN.
In the January 1965,4(3):35-4 1, issue of The Boxwood Bulletin, the America n Boxwood Society (A BS ) published its first, "Registration Lists of C ultiva r ames In Buxus L." by Dr. Burdette L. Wagenknecht (Figure 4a and b). W agenknecht served as the first registrar for the ABS. In these li sts, Wagenknecht recognized Buxus microphyLla 'Compacta' as being registered by Henry Hohman March I, 1948 (Figure 4a and 4b). Because Wagenknecht cited the date March 1, 1948, it is likely only the reviewed original application card, Figure 6 received by the AAN on March 1, 1948. Because the March 3, 1948 date was not mentioned, it is also The Code, refers to The International Code of likely Wagenknecht overlooked the AAN response Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants, 8th edition, 2009, denying that registration. Wagenknecht probably which incorporates the Rules and Recommendations knew the AAN registration is not covered by the Code for naming plants in cultivation as adopted by Article 1l.2, as that body is not a statutory registration the International Union of Biological Sciences, authority (which are defined as "a n organization International Commission for the Nomenclature established by legal enactment of a particular country of Cultivated Plants. CD. Brickell serves as the or by legal treaty between ... countries." These statutory Commission Chairman. bodies include Plant Breeders' Rights or Plant Patent authorities (Figure 5). Article 1l.2 of the Code states, "Notwithstanding Art 11.1 , if an accepted cultivar name becomes rejected and replaced with a new name by a statutory plant II nry Hohman, Kings- • Uc. ryland. am=h 1. registration authority, or is otherwise replaced by a in 1912 by Wm. ppl bl" name designated by such an authority, the earlier d, .. Ext I \\ rem r • accepted names becomes a synonym of the newer name." Article 11.1 states, "The accepted name is Figure 4a the earliest established one that must be adopted for a cultivar, Group, grex, or the generic name of more an intergeneric graft chimera under the rules of this Code." The earliest established cultivar name (reference: Figure 4b Code, Article 11.1) is the 1949 AAN registration
Page 8 The Boxwood Bulletin - 2015 for ' Kingsv ill e Dwarf'. T here is no record of applied are now consid ered to represent a cultiva r. " Wagenknecht rejecting ' Kingsvill e Dwarf' registered (Code 8th edition, Article 2 1. 6). in the 1949 Woody Plant Register List # /. H owever, Wagenknecht did reject 'Kingsville Dwarf' cited in Finall y, this history has brought together all the the 1963 articl e by W yman. As Wagenknecht was decisions and hi ghlighting the sys tematic conAi cts in sil ent on the 1949 registratio n of Buxus microphyll a the Code providing the most thorough examination of ' Kingsvi ll e Dwarf', certainly it was overl ooked. the nomenclature of this clone to date.
T here ex ists the ea rli er accepted name of one T herefore, with this evidence, the culriva r name registrar being cha ll enged by the later accepted name Buxus microphylla 'Compacta' is hereby reaffirmed and of another, except (as I noted) the latter was done Buxus microphylla 'Kingsvi ll e Dwarf' and remai ns a without any reference to or acknowledgement of the sy nonym . ea rli er registration. Additionally, it had an improper citation of a Latin cultiva r name publication later than IJ an1959 (the date after which new culri va r Acknowledgements: names must be in a modern vernacular language to T he author is grateful to Stefan B. Lura, Botanist, distinguish them fro m botanical epithets). In spite U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., for of the relatively early registration and publication provi ding penetrating and comprehensive insight as of ' Kingsv ille Dwarf' as the accepted name for this well as copies of literature used in most fi gures. clone, today it seems that 'Compacta' is the more widely used. T his is not a trivial consideration. The I Si nce 1985, Lyn n R. Batdorf has served as the registrar has an obligation to register, " ... the name registrar for the ABS which is the International that bes t preserves existing usage is to be chosen as C ultivar Registration Authority for Buxus L. the accepted name by the appropriate International C ultivar Registration Authority... " (Code 8th edition, Article 29.2). It must also be recogni zed that 'Compacta', gained acceptance due to many years' of In Memorial effort to stabilize that cultivar name. For the most The American Boxwood ociety recently part AA 's pioneer in cultivar name registrations have 10 t two beloved life members been traditionally accepted by [C RA's, and have been maintained by the IC RA registrations wh ich follow. 'Kingsv ille Dwarf' vs. 'Compacta' presents a clea r Joan Butler of Bluemont, VA and exception. later We tmini ter-Canterbury, VA: Joan was one of the original founders of The American If the 1949 registration, and publication, by the Boxwood Society. he and her husband, Scott, were the Editor of The Boxwood Bulletin for ix years. The AA of the cultivar name, 'Kingsville Dwarf' were Butler's owned their own nursery and were wonderful not a serious consideration, there is some support for resources for the member of the Society, helping to justifying the acceptance of 'Compacta'. This would answer the many boxwood questions that came our way. be supported if the improper citation of W yman's Joan is survived by a son and daughter. 1963 article as the original source of the name were disregarded. By itself, the article cannot serve as a valid name publication since it was a Latin-form Sarah Burton: Sarah was a resident of Clarke County, cultivar name published after IJ an 1959. However, the VA. and very active in The American Boxwood ociety Code does permit the adoption of, " .. . the epithet of and well known in Virginia Garden Clubs as well a In any name in Latin form published prior to IJan1959, her home community for her plant knowledge. even if it is not validly published under the ICB Memorial contributions can be made to [International Code of Botanical Nomenclature], that The American Boxwood Society Memorial Gardens, meets the requirements for establishment as a cultivar PO Box 85, Boyce, VA 22620 name under this Code . .. if the plants to which it was
Page 9 The Boxwood Bulletin - 2015 2016AnnuaiAmerican Boxwood Society Symposium The Presidential Tour!
May 11 Meet at Bl andy Farm , Boyce, VA Home of The American Boxwood Society's Boxwood Memori al Garden---Leave cars, board the bu s. Tour Montpeli er - Home of President James Madison Tour Waverl y -Home of Mr. George Stick. Tour Mt. Sharon - Home of Mr. & Mrs. George Seilheimer Tour the Barbourville Winery. Dinner Holiday Inn - Charlottesville Hotel
May 12 Vi sit Tufton Farm - Thomas Jefferson Center fo r Histori c Plants Ashlawn - Highland President James Monroe's Home Box lunch there. Moven - Form er home of John Kluge Travel by bus to Staunton, VA - Stay at Stonewall Jackson, Hotel
May 13 Tour of pri vate gardens in Staunton, VA. Vi sit Andre Viette's farm and nursery Drive through JMU Arboretum Travel back to Blandy Farm
Visit our website www.boxwoodsociety.org for more information and registration in February
Invitation From Our Friends in Europe Europea n Boxwood and Topiary Sociery EBTS France, Pala is de l'Europe, 62520 Le Touquer - Pa ri s - Plage
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You can help EBTS France by becoming a donor member. Srarring ar 300 U D o r es rablishing a company membership at 2000 USD fo r 2 yea rs . ••••••• •• ..Ca ndidates are expecred to have two spo nsors to recommend them for membership .. • • ......
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Page 10 The Boxwood Bulletin - 2015 [1] The Question Box
Q: I join ed the society in hopes of learn ing Q: I was hoping to cla rify you r recommendati ons more about boxwood a nd I am wa iting for my regarding snow and boxwood . I had understood membership information to arrive. [have several that brushing the snow off of boxwood is not ques tions. First, I lost an American Boxwood advised, as it causes cracking in the cambium, and topi ary over the fa ll las t yea r. It was pl anted in a while these injuries may not be apparent at the time, container and one of a pair. I had several people they w ill become so once the pl ant encounters the look at it to advise me on the problem - they were stresses of summer. I have related your paragraph members, and one advised me to re move it from fro m the Boxwood H andbook (pg.4S), but would the container and pl ant it in the ground which I appreciate a con fo rmatio n. We have some branches did. Over the winter it died. I am concerned about that continue to be bent down by the snows of losing the other now. I wonder what caused the D ecember 19, 2009 and my boss is ve ry concerned. problem and how to prevent it in the remaining topi ary, which is ve rdant green and healthy now. A: Yes, this storm was one fo r the record books. Secondly, I have fi ve Engli sh box next to the back First the heavy two fee t of snow, which bent down porch (2 0 to 30 years old). Last year two of them the branches. T hen, very cold weather keeps the developed some dead spots which turned brown and snow fro m melting even turning it to something like I cut off leaving holes. W hat caused this and what ice. T hat's what makes this storm a bit unique. can I do to prevent it from happening again ? T he heavily bent branches are "glued " to the ground - not an exciting propos ition. N evertheless, A: G row ing boxwood as a topi ary specimen is the ONLY option is to wait it our. Yes, this may ve ry stressful to the shrub. res ult in some damage and injury. H owever, even Also, growing an American boxwood (wh ich done slowly and carefully, removing the snow/ice mature at 45 to 55 feet tall ) in a contai ner is ve ry fro m these large branches will only result in more stressful. Combined together, these conditions severe damage. Patience, and waiting it out is in the create a near bonsai type environment. Without bes t interes t of the boxwood . regular root pruning, exacting watering and temperature control, careful fertilizing, and a host of other labor intensive cultural practices, eventual failure of the shrub is assured. Regarding the dead spots in your English box. It is mostly likely a fungal disease (Macorphoma or Volutell a). Please do not fo cus on the dead branches by pruning them out - this will not correct the problem. It is essential to thin the dense foli age, particularl y the healthy green portions! T hinning should be done annually with Nov/ D ec being the optimal time. Prune out (do not break) branches about six inches in length in the most dense portion of the shrub. Keep doing this until you can just begin to barely see the interior branches . T here is no need to wait for membership information to arrive. Please visit the Ameri can Featured C ove r Photo C redit: Boxwood Society website at: www.boxwoodsociety. John Elkins, Elkins Photography org for membership information.
Page 11 The Boxwood Bulletin - 2015