Boxwood branches assembled into a tree form and decorated for the holidays.
R. Wayne Mezitt is a third-generation nurseryman, Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist, and Owner of Weston Nurseries, Inc. Wayne served as president of Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA), New England Nursery Association (NENA), and American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) which is based in Washington, DC. Wayne is the horticultural consultant for GrowingWisdom.com with Dave Epstein.
Throughout this region the boxwoods (Buxus) are some of the most familiar and widely used hedging and edging shrubs. Similar in appearance but more winter hardy than Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata), boxwood is easy to maintain and its neat evergreen foliage stays attractive year around. Particularly during the winter months boxwood is a standout in the landscape. All boxwood has proven virtually “deer-proof”, and will tolerate semi-shady conditions as well as open, exposed locations and drier soils. Available in a range of growth types and foliage colors, few shrubs rival boxwood’s resiliency and reliability.
An additional bonus during the holidays is boxwood’s versatility as a cut green – it is a superb component for attractive and durable holiday decorations. The smooth, rounded leaves, delicate texture and flexible stems adapt easily to a variety of uses – swags, wreaths, table centerpieces, and even fashioned into small scale table-top “trees”. Try using the cut branches in combination with blue, bronze or yellow coniferous evergreens, interspersed with bare stems of willow (Salix) or red-stem dogwood (Cornus), and accented with fruited twigs of winterberry (Ilex verticillata) or flowering crabapple (Malus). The striking mahogany-bronze leaves of Rhododendron PJM also can create an appealing contrast.
At our home we delay shearing some of our plants just so we can use the prunings for Christmas arrangements. Boxwood can be pruned or cut back most anytime of year, even in mid winter without harm to the plant. Using hand pruners and only a modicum of care, branches can be removed almost invisibly from the plants. And even with more drastic cuts, next year’s vigorous new growth responds readily to fill-in any gaps.
Many varieties and cultivars of boxwood are available, from the most compact and slow growing to those that eventually become large shrubs or even tree-like. Cultivars like ‘Kingsville’ and ‘Suffruiticosa’ are among the smallest and most compact. Faster and larger growing ones include Common Boxwood (B. sempervirens) and ‘Green Mountain’, and narrower forms like ‘Graham Blandy’ are effective hedges for tight spaces. Likewise, foliage size, shape, color and texture varies among the cultivars. ‘Justin Brouwers’ has the tiniest foliage, and ‘Variegata’ has green leaves splashed with ivory.
The foliage of some Common Boxwood (B. sempervirens) cultivars carries a distinctive “cat-like” aroma that some people find disagreeable (but others appreciate). Littleleaf Boxwood (B. microphylla) cultivars do not have this aroma, and some (particularly ‘Wintergreen’) waft a sweet fragrance through the garden as they come into bloom in early April.
Boxwoods develop extensive root systems and will grow well in most any soil condition. Recently planted boxwood generally requires a year or more to get roots established. During this re-rooting period the dormant leaves can take on a coppery hue in winter, sometimes turning nearly orange in tone, until spring. Once the roots mature and take hold, foliage color becomes pretty much uniform year-round.
Winter is a fine time to look over your yard and contemplate where boxwood plantings would be attractive. And when the time comes to choose the type you want to use, remember that the cut stems can do double-duty by adding home-grown enjoyment to your holiday festivities.
