give a soothing strength to any garden. · area of the garden. there’s no need to re-create a...

announce a threshold or frame a path can announce a threshold or frame a path can

give a soothing strength to any garden.give a soothing strength to any garden.

Boxwood is happiest in the shade garden, from places of light Boxwood is happiest in the shade garden, from places of light

shade to gloomier landscapes. It dislikes baking hot spots in shade to gloomier landscapes. It dislikes baking hot spots in

summer but detests more than that an exposed and sunny summer but detests more than that an exposed and sunny

location in winter, which causes discoloration and dieback. location in winter, which causes discoloration and dieback.

The shade garden is a better fit aesthetically as well as The shade garden is a better fit aesthetically as well as

physically, because this is the environment where you rely physically, because this is the environment where you rely

more on leaf ornament.more on leaf ornament.

Boxwood’s forte — other than its lack of appeal to deer — is Boxwood’s forte — other than its lack of appeal to deer — is

that it provides a steadfast foil of fine texture against coarser-that it provides a steadfast foil of fine texture against coarser-

leafed shade plants such as azaleas, hydrangeas, hostas and leafed shade plants such as azaleas, hydrangeas, hostas and

Japanese maples. A simple line of boxwood, or just one large Japanese maples. A simple line of boxwood, or just one large

specimen, is all you need to bestow a sense of structure to an specimen, is all you need to bestow a sense of structure to an

area of the garden. There’s no need to re-create a Colonial area of the garden. There’s no need to re-create a Colonial

garden, unless you want to. garden, unless you want to.

I’ve touched on this before, but it is worth repeating: In I’ve touched on this before, but it is worth repeating: In

recent years, the development of new boxwood varieties has recent years, the development of new boxwood varieties has

revived a shrub that for all its rich history in the American revived a shrub that for all its rich history in the American

"Chanticleer, a Pleasure "Chanticleer, a Pleasure

Garden." Garden." View ArchiveView Archive

of 8Boxwood gets a makeover - The Washington Post

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garden was falling quickly from grace. The classic English garden was falling quickly from grace. The classic English

boxwood was beset with a series of ills, from soil nematodes boxwood was beset with a series of ills, from soil nematodes

to boxwood decline disease. The latest, and in some ways to boxwood decline disease. The latest, and in some ways

most serious, malady is the most serious, malady is the boxwood blightboxwood blight, a fungus that , a fungus that

targets many boxwood types but especially English box. targets many boxwood types but especially English box.

The spores of the disease are spread by bringing in infected The spores of the disease are spread by bringing in infected

plants or tools, so you can keep it at bay if you are careful. If plants or tools, so you can keep it at bay if you are careful. If

you had an old estate stuffed with antebellum boxwood — you had an old estate stuffed with antebellum boxwood —

admittedly not a problem for most of us — you would do well admittedly not a problem for most of us — you would do well

to keep a set of garden tools for the visiting maintenance to keep a set of garden tools for the visiting maintenance

crew to use. That’s the advice that Robert Saunders gives to crew to use. That’s the advice that Robert Saunders gives to

property owners and institutions with such gardens. His property owners and institutions with such gardens. His

family’s nursery in Piney River, Va. — Saunders Brothers — is family’s nursery in Piney River, Va. — Saunders Brothers — is

widely known for its boxwood and grows varieties for garden widely known for its boxwood and grows varieties for garden

centers and public gardens from Richmond to Boston.centers and public gardens from Richmond to Boston.

I was recently in a boxwood garden in Georgetown with some I was recently in a boxwood garden in Georgetown with some

other boxwood gurus — Andrea Filippone and Eric Fleisher, other boxwood gurus — Andrea Filippone and Eric Fleisher,

whose company, whose company, F2 Environmental DesignF2 Environmental Design, specializes in , specializes in

restoring boxwood gardens that have become old, tired and restoring boxwood gardens that have become old, tired and

diseased. They do this with a two-pronged approach: by diseased. They do this with a two-pronged approach: by



using organic practices that revitalize the soil and by planting using organic practices that revitalize the soil and by planting

new varieties. new varieties.

In the old days, the world of boxwood worked this way: If you In the old days, the world of boxwood worked this way: If you

wanted tall hedges, you used something called American box; wanted tall hedges, you used something called American box;

otherwise you inherited ancient English box as big blobs that otherwise you inherited ancient English box as big blobs that

rose five or six feet and almost as much across. If you were rose five or six feet and almost as much across. If you were

well-heeled, you could buy expensive boxwood that had been well-heeled, you could buy expensive boxwood that had been

salvaged from old estates and hauled to your garden. (Even salvaged from old estates and hauled to your garden. (Even

old box moves well, in the right hands.) old box moves well, in the right hands.)

For small edging box you used younger English box and kept For small edging box you used younger English box and kept

it clipped, or you planted miniature varieties that might grow it clipped, or you planted miniature varieties that might grow

a foot high after 30 years. a foot high after 30 years.

Today, you can pick from a raft of varieties by leaf shape, Today, you can pick from a raft of varieties by leaf shape,

color and — foremost — size. Because they grow at a faster color and — foremost — size. Because they grow at a faster

rate than old box, you don’t have to wait inordinately for rate than old box, you don’t have to wait inordinately for

them to have the effect you want. So for an edging box, them to have the effect you want. So for an edging box,

Filippone will use a variety such as Grace Hendrick Phillips, Filippone will use a variety such as Grace Hendrick Phillips,

which is bright green, very fine in texture and grows to about which is bright green, very fine in texture and grows to about



12 inches by about 24 inches across. Other choices include 12 inches by about 24 inches across. Other choices include

Morris Dwarf and Green Pillow, she said.Morris Dwarf and Green Pillow, she said.

Another great dwarf boxwood is named Franklins Gem, Another great dwarf boxwood is named Franklins Gem,

similar in its light green hue and extremely fine texture, but a similar in its light green hue and extremely fine texture, but a

little taller and wider, getting to three feet across.little taller and wider, getting to three feet across.

Vadar Valley bridges the space between small and medium-Vadar Valley bridges the space between small and medium-

size boxwood, growing two feet high and four feet across after size boxwood, growing two feet high and four feet across after

a few years. After 15 years or more it can get to three feet high a few years. After 15 years or more it can get to three feet high

and six feet across, Saunders said. Vadar Valley is and six feet across, Saunders said. Vadar Valley is

distinguished by a handsome blue cast to its spring foliage. distinguished by a handsome blue cast to its spring foliage.

It’s slow-growing, but with a bit of age “it looks spectacular,” It’s slow-growing, but with a bit of age “it looks spectacular,”

Filippone said. Filippone said.

Among the new hybrids that substitute for English boxwood, Among the new hybrids that substitute for English boxwood,

Filippone commends the variety Justin Brouwers, which has Filippone commends the variety Justin Brouwers, which has

attractive, dense, narrow foliage.attractive, dense, narrow foliage.

Another of Filippone’s favorites is Green Mound. For a larger Another of Filippone’s favorites is Green Mound. For a larger

version, Saunders recommends Green Beauty and Jim version, Saunders recommends Green Beauty and Jim

Stauffer, both of which can take sunnier sites. The latter is Stauffer, both of which can take sunnier sites. The latter is



more resistant to leafminer but is harder for consumers to more resistant to leafminer but is harder for consumers to

find, he said.find, he said.

Many of these varieties have their quirks. But they are not as Many of these varieties have their quirks. But they are not as

sickly as boxwood of yore, assuming they are free of blight, sickly as boxwood of yore, assuming they are free of blight,

and very much worth planting instead of, say, azalea or and very much worth planting instead of, say, azalea or

hydrangea.hydrangea.

If you want more verticality in your boxwood, Filippone If you want more verticality in your boxwood, Filippone

commends a variety named Rotundifolia which, as its name commends a variety named Rotundifolia which, as its name

suggests, has markedly larger and rounder leaves that pop suggests, has markedly larger and rounder leaves that pop

out in the presence of other boxwood foliage. Another, out in the presence of other boxwood foliage. Another,

named Fastigiata, takes on the form of a medium-size named Fastigiata, takes on the form of a medium-size

Christmas tree. Saunders thinks it should be used in place of Christmas tree. Saunders thinks it should be used in place of

the screens of arborvitae that people like. It’s more the screens of arborvitae that people like. It’s more

handsome, he says, and deer-resistant.handsome, he says, and deer-resistant.

For all their benefits over English box, many of these For all their benefits over English box, many of these

varieties face a couple of issues. They can be hard to find in varieties face a couple of issues. They can be hard to find in

an industry where growers must anticipate demand years in an industry where growers must anticipate demand years in

advance. (Saunders’s Web site, advance. (Saunders’s Web site, www.saundersbrothers.comwww.saundersbrothers.com, ,



lists the retail nurseries it supplies.) Also, some are more lists the retail nurseries it supplies.) Also, some are more

prone to boxwood leafminer, which can disfigure the foliage.prone to boxwood leafminer, which can disfigure the foliage.

One way to reduce but not eradicate the problem is to prune One way to reduce but not eradicate the problem is to prune

and destroy the fresh growth where the midge lays her eggs and destroy the fresh growth where the midge lays her eggs

in May, but do this after the new growth darkens next month. in May, but do this after the new growth darkens next month.

Varieties derived from the species Varieties derived from the species Buxus sempervirens Buxus sempervirens aren’t aren’t

as susceptible. These include Vardar Valley, Rotundifolia and as susceptible. These include Vardar Valley, Rotundifolia and

Fastigiata.Fastigiata.

Filippone also uses organic, insecticidal soap to kill the adults Filippone also uses organic, insecticidal soap to kill the adults

when they emerge and fly about in early May, giving the when they emerge and fly about in early May, giving the

boxwood several sprayings as weather requires.boxwood several sprayings as weather requires.

Saunders sees a day when future varieties are resistant both Saunders sees a day when future varieties are resistant both

to blight and to leafminer. What is clear is that a plant once to blight and to leafminer. What is clear is that a plant once

thought moribund is springing back to life, courtesy of thought moribund is springing back to life, courtesy of

growers and breeders who refuse to let this ancient shrub growers and breeders who refuse to let this ancient shrub

sink into history.sink into history.

@adrian_higgins on Twitter@adrian_higgins on Twitter



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