Buxus - Boxwood (Buxaceae ) ------Buxus is perhaps the best of the broadleaf, evergreen, pruning (low maintenance) small, formal shrubs. Boxwood is available in several -lustrous dense evergreen foliage forms and excellent when properly used in shady -can be sheared into a formal hedge, shrub, or topiary conditions as a specimen, edging, or hedge shrub. grows very well in partial shade Liabilities FEATURES -slow growth Form -foliage may burn on some forms or species in severe -small, medium, or large broadleaf winters, especially at the stem tips evergreen shrub, depending upon -malodorous inflorescences for larger, very mature species, hybrid, or cultivar; all modern forms hybrids are small shrubs -some cultivars or species have unattractive brownish- -small versions grow slowly to 2' tall x 2' wide, yellow foliage all winter whereas larger versions mature after many years at 15' Habitat tall x 15' wide -Zones 5 (actually variable from 4 to 6, depending -upright oval to upright rounded growth habit upon type) to 8 -slow to very slow growth rate -the various species are native to Korea, Japan, or the Culture Mediterranean; most modern cultivars are hybrid -full sun to full shade but do best in partial shade selections -mulch to protect the shallow, fibrous roots from summer drought and winter dessication SELECTIONS -site in protected areas, away from wind and direct sun Alternates for best performance -small evergreen shrubs, especially those with a -a variety of cosmetic, physiological, pest, and disease globed, oval, or pyramidal habit that is tight and dense problems occasionaly affect this species (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana', Picea abies 'Pumila', -abundantly available in the trade Taxus x media 'Everlow', etc.) -responds very well to periodic shearing and shaping -small shrubs that tolerate shady conditions Foliage (Fothergilla gardenii, Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet', -evergreen, medium green to dark etc.) green, opposite, elliptical, 0.5-1" Cultivars – Variants- Related species long, depending upon species, -Buxus microphylla var. koreana - Korean Littleleaf hybrid, and cultivar Boxwood -short petioles lead to a grooved - grown for its hardiness from zone 4 to 9, but its mid-rib miniature foliage usually turns a very unattractive, -foliage on some cultivars may turn dead-looking yellow-brown in zone 4 to 6 winters yellowish-brown in winter -'Winter Gem' - has the lightest green foliage color of Flowers all the Boxwoods, with new, relatively large foliage -cream-colored inflorescences in emerging lime-green on yellowish stems and maturing late Apr. and early May occur only by mid-summer to medium green, with minimal leaf on mature shrubs, being noticeable margin burn in winter; also the fastest growing of all but not showy the modern Boxwoods, and often needs to be sheared -somewhat malodorous or fragrant, twice in a growing season if maintained in a formal depending upon personal shrub appearance or as a formal hedge; very popular in perception zones 4 and 5; 'Winter Gem' may actually be a -attract bees selection of Buxus microphylla var. koreana Fruits 'Wintergreen' -ornamentally insignificant black seeds within brown -Buxus sempervirens - Common capsules, often not seen Boxwood Twigs -glossy, larger, dark green winter -green, thin, 4-sided, eventually turning light brown foliage is popular in southern regions Trunk with many cultivars, but usually only -usually not applicable; on larger specimens, several cold hardy from zones 6 to 8 trunks are usually present, but foliage and stems -Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley' - usually cover them all the way to the ground the standard cold hardy cultivar for this species, which matures at 3' x 5' and is USAGE hardy through zone 5; very popular Function -Hybrids of Buxus microphylla var. koreana x Buxus -formal or informal shrub, usually for shady conditions, sempervirens - the "Green Series" consists of Canadian commonly used as a hedge, foundation planting, edger, hybrids of these 2 species, useful from zones 5 to 8; or facer shrub developed in Southern Ontario: -can also be used for formal gardens, topiary gardens, -Buxus 'Green Gem' - 2' x 2' or English gardens, as it responds very well to shearing -Buxus 'Green Mound' - 3' x 3' Texture -Buxus 'Green Mountain' - 5' x 3', naturally pyramidal, -fine texture an alternative evergreen to replace the overused Dwarf -thick density Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca 'Conica'), which is very Assets prone to disease and pest problems with age -maintains a dense, formal appearance even without -Buxus 'Green Velvet' - 3' x 3', very popular in zone 5