Boxwood Shrubs – The Tree Center

Wedding Ring® Japanese Boxwood

kylettc — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 18:10:38 +0000

Faulkner Japanese Boxwood Cone

markttc — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 05:44:56 +0000

Nothing brings a look of classic beauty to a garden faster and more effectively than clipped boxwood. We decided to help you get started even sooner, by having our nursery staff create some boxwood cones that are already shaped, and just waiting for your guiding hand and some time to finish them off. Already clipped into low cones, they have developed the necessary dense internal growth that gives the best topiary forms – long-lasting and not likely to break open. Perfect for conical accents at the corners of beds, inside beds, as pairs framing a step or door, or in pots, these fabulous plants are already well on the way to being wonderful garden features. Made from a naturally-dense variety of Japanese boxwood, they are not only tightly branched and solid, with tiny leaves, they are more cold-resistant and generally much hardier than the old English boxwood that is still offered at discount prices – almost guaranteed to give you problems with winter damage and insects, unless you live in exactly the right small part of the country where that European tree will grow well. For colder zones the Faulkner Boxwood Cone is ideal, and in hot and humid areas too. It grows well across a range of soil conditions and in different light levels. All you have to do is keep trimming as it grows, until you have the perfect plants you can already see in your mind’s eye, giving your garden that wonderful formal look that is as much a feature of classic American gardens as it is of English and European ones. Capture that classic look for yourself – it’s easy because we have already given you a flying start.

Growing the Faulkner Japanese Boxwood Cone

Size and Appearance

The Faulkner Japanese Boxwood is a selection of a very hardy species of Asian boxwood. It is evergreen, with a compact, densely-branched form and small leaves, usually about ½ inch long, and never more than ¾ inch across. These are glossy, smooth, slightly leathery and a lovely dark emerald-green. Younger leaves on new growth are brighter green until they mature. We chose this variety for our landscapers to clip because it is one of the most ‘clippable’ of all boxwoods. It doesn’t die back after hard trimming, and re-sprouts rapidly, and with many dense branches. Naturally growing 3 or 4 feet tall and just a couple of feet wide, you can raise your cone to at least 4 feet in time, and keep it as slender and tight as you wish. In cold zones the leaves can take on an attractive bronzy winter look, which disappears once the warm weather comes, giving you bright, deep-green cones again.

Using the Faulkner Japanese Boxwood Cone in Your Garden

Boxwood cones are perfect accents in beds, or use them at the corners of clipped boxwood hedges for a wonderful formal look. Although started as low cones, these plants can be transformed into perfect spheres, spirals, pyramids and other topiary shapes of your choosing. Grow them as bed accents, in pairs flanking steps, gates or doors, or in planter boxes from zone 7 and into warmer areas.

Hardiness

The Faulkner Japanese Boxwood grows well from zone 5 into zone 9, but it is at the ends of that range, in the cold winters of zone 5, and the heat and humidity of zone 9 in the southeast, that it really excels, and leaves the English boxwood in the dust. This type of boxwood is definitely the most reliable choice for American gardens.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Faulkner Japanese Boxwood thrives in full sun and partial shade, appreciating some afternoon shade when in hot, dry gardens. It also tolerates light full shade, such as beneath large deciduous trees, but it may grow a little less densely – give your cones plenty of light for that. Almost any well-drained soil will support good growth, but avoid areas that are constantly wet, which it doesn’t like. Once you have been growing it for a couple of seasons it will take ordinary dry conditions in summer, but always appreciates a slow, deep soak.

Maintenance and Pruning

All boxwoods can be affected by pests or diseases, but if you feed your Faulkner Japanese Boxwood regularly and don’t leave it dry for too long, you should have no serious issues. Deer don’t bother with it, and it’s easy to grow. Trim between early spring and early fall. You can trim before the new growth emerges, but it is better to wait for it to grow out and darken in color a little before that first trim of the year. Continue trimming as needed, finishing in early fall so that any late growth has matured before winter comes. The more you trim, the denser and tighter your cones will be. Use a sharp pair of topiary shears rather than hedge-trimmers. You will get a much better result, and it’s a fun skill once you get the knack.

History and Origin of the Faulkner Japanese Boxwood Cone

The Faulkner Japanese Boxwood is a special form of the Japanese boxwood, Buxus microphylla var. japonica. This species is the most cold-resistant of all boxwood, and Faulkner is placed in the hardiest group of varieties – so you know it will survive winter. We don’t know much about its origins, but it seems to have been found in Europe or England, and was mentioned for the first time in 1992.

Buying the Faulkner Japanese Boxwood Cone at the Tree Center

The Faulkner Japanese Boxwood is so good it won the coveted Award of Garden Merit in 2012 from the Royal Horticultural Society of England – the highest honor. It is one of only four boxwoods to ever receive that award. With the added value of the careful training our growers have done to turn it into charming cones, these are plants of the highest quality. Now you can instantly set your garden on the road to classic perfection – order now, while we still have plants available.

Golden Triumph Boxwood

markttc — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 20:55:44 +0000

‘Green’ and ‘boxwood’ go together – you see it so often even in their names. But sometimes we want to add some brightness, and that’s when we don’t want ‘green’, so ‘gold’ would be the obvious other choice. That’s exactly what the Golden Triumph Boxwood brings you – a striking golden look from leaves that are boldly edged and splashed with golden yellow around a green center. The look is very bright, making this the perfect accent evergreen. This variety is tough as we expect a Little-leaf boxwood to be, and it grows slowly into a dense ball, reaching a height of about 3 feet within 10 years. You can really brighten your beds with it planted as an accent, or use it for pots decorating your entrance or terrace. If you want to do complex hedging designs, rows of yellow can be interwoven with rows of green to make exciting patterns. This boxwood is truly different and exciting, and if you find boxwood ‘dull’, this plant will triumph over your prejudice and win gold in your heart.

Growing the Golden Triumph Boxwood

Size and Appearance

The Golden Triumph Boxwood is a small evergreen shrub, growing to 2 or 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide within 10 years. It can be trimmed as you wish, or try leaving it untrimmed for a more modern look – untrimmed boxwoods develop into attractive garden characters. It has dense branching, keeping foliage right to the ground for many, many years, even if never trimmed. The leaves are smooth and rounded, with a glossy surface. They are about 1 inch across, but with trimming and age they will become smaller. The leaves are a dark green color, and mostly surrounded with a broad, irregular edging of bright golden yellow. This border varies in thickness, with some leaves almost completely yellow, or sometimes with half the leaf fully yellow and the other half only bordered. New leaves may be completely yellow when they are young, developing their green centers later. The overall look is bright and bold – a triumph of gold over green. In very hot areas keep moist to avoid any summer scorching, and in cold areas the leaves may take on orange or bronze tones during winter, becoming greener again in spring. In spring, especially with untrimmed plants, you may see small, fragrant yellow-green flowers in clusters along the stems at the base of the leaves.

Using the Golden Triumph Boxwood in Your Garden

The Golden Triumph Boxwood is a wonderful bright accent to lift your beds. Use it at the corners when growing boxwood hedges, or as an individual plant in a bed. Grow a colorful hedge with it and let your imagination inspire you to unique designs with your boxwood hedges. It is perfect for growing in pots in warmer zones, making precise golden globes that will look great. For rows plant 12 inches apart and space carefully so that you don’t get gaps as it develops that will be slow to fill in. It can be trimmed into globes, squares and low pyramids. It can also be left to grow naturally, making a rounded dense evergreen accent with no effort or work at all.

Hardiness

The Golden Triumph Boxwood is more hardy than English boxwood, and grows well from zone 5 all the way into zone 9. It grows well in both cool and warm zones, with good tolerance of heat and humidity.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Golden Triumph Boxwood should be grown in full sun for the most golden color, perhaps with some afternoon shade in hot zones. It will also grow in partial shade everywhere, and even in light full shade, but the foliage color will not be as pronounced, with a more greenish-yellow coloring. Save it for sunny spots, and use plain-green boxwood in more shady areas. It will grow in most soils as long as they are well-drained, favoring soils that are not too dry or too wet. Once well established it has good resistance to ordinary periods of summer drought, but it always does better with a regular supply of water.

Maintenance and Pruning

Like all boxwood, the Golden Triumph Boxwood is easy to trim and grows well when trimmed. The more you trim the denser the growth and the smaller the leaves, although this variety naturally has a dense structure. The ideal times for clipping are from after the last spring frost, once new growth has matured a little, and through until late summer, avoiding very hot and dry periods. Don’t clip in the fall, especially in cooler regions. This plant is more resistant to pests and diseases than English boxwood, and rabbits and deer usually leave it alone. If you trim regularly it is a good idea to apply an evergreen fertilizer in early spring and again during the summer. Mulch over the root zone will reduce the need for watering.

History and Origin of the Golden Triumph Boxwood

Japanese, or Little-leaf, Boxwood, Buxus microphylla var. japonica is a small tree with a broad crown when growing naturally in its home of Japan. It has been grown in America since the 19th century for its cold resistance and overall toughness compared to Buxus sempervirens, the English boxwood. It is also grown in Europe, and that is where the variety called ‘Golden Triumph’ was developed. We don’t know the details, but in 2004 Hendrick Koster, who has a nursery in Boskoop, the Netherlands, was granted European Plant Breeder Rights for it. It was found as a variegated branch growing on a Japanese boxwood variety called ‘Faulkner’.

Buying the Golden Triumph Boxwood at The Tree Center

For a great evergreen accent – and something very different in the world of boxwoods – the Golden Triumph Boxwood is a winner. You will love how it brightens your beds and planting, but order now, as rare varieties like this soon sell out, and we don’t know when we might see it again.

Curly Locks Boxwood

markttc — Sun, 30 Jan 2022 02:03:32 +0000

Boxwoods are incredibly useful plants in almost every garden, and of course they are widely grown. Mostly, though, they are not grown for their beauty, but for the ease with which we can turn them into ‘green structures’, like hedges, globes, pyramids and other geometrical structures. It’s more a matter of green structure than individual beauty. Some, though, stand out for their distinct beauty, and as a general principle we are all in favor of growing some of them untrimmed, to develop into attractive rounded shrubs that often have fascinating forms. One stands out, though, for certainly never being suitable for trimming, but being outstanding as a unique specimen for small spaces, and for beauty in its own right. This is the ‘Curly Lock’s Boxwood, a variety of the Japanese little-leaf boxwood. This intriguing little plant has a mind of its own, and grows as it chooses, developing intriguing twisted branches, and often twisted leaves too. It twists and curls its way around, forming a unique bush every time, and always being appealing and eye-catching. Perfect where you want an interesting specimen, it is ideal for growing in a container or small garden – perhaps a courtyard or Asian-style layout – and even for training as a miniature espalier up against a trellis, where its twisting branches can be shown off to maximum effect.

Growing the Curly Locks Boxwood

Size and Appearance

The Curly Locks Boxwood is a small, slow-growing evergreen shrub that will in time reach a height of about 3 feet, with a similar or slightly wider spread, depending on how it is grown. The branches are covered in a light-brown, flaking bark, and the stems twist and turn randomly, creating an attractive effect. The small green leaves are less than an inch long and almost circular. They are leathery in texture, smooth, glossy and an unusually-light yellow-green color. Some of the leaves, like the stems, tend to curl too, adding further to the charm of this great little plant. In colder zones sometimes in winter the leaves can turn a little bronzy, much less so than with other forms but this soon disappears again in spring. In spring you will see inconspicuous small greenish-yellow flowers in clusters along the older stems, but these are of no particular ornamental value.

Using the Curly Locks Boxwood in Your Garden

This is not a boxwood for hedges or clipped topiary. The Curly Locks Boxwood is a unique small specimen plant that should be grown as an accent or conversation piece. Plant it at the corner of a bed, or somewhere it stands out. Grow it in an attractive planter, or train it as a charming bonsai. Plant it at the foot of a wall and spread out the branches on a trellis for a unique espalier plant – this also shows off the twisting of the branches to maximum effect.

Hardiness

A variety of Japanese boxwood, the ‘Curly Lock’s Boxwood is completely hardy in zone 6, and with winter protection would probably also grow in warmer parts of zone 5. It is happy to grow in warmer zones, all the way into zone 9, but in very hot and humid areas it may be more prone to problems.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Curly Locks Boxwood grows across a wide range of light conditions, from full sun to light full shade, such as at the foot of a north-facing wall. In hot areas, and in drier soils, some afternoon shade is beneficial. As long as the soil is well-drained, it will be happy, so avoid wet and waterlogged areas, especially where it is wet during winter. Poor soils should be enriched with organic materials dug in, and mulch in spring is helpful too. Avoid touching branches or leaves with mulches. Established plants are reasonably drought tolerant, but benefit from regular deep watering during dry summer weather.

Maintenance and Pruning

Regular watering and some spring evergreen fertilizer will keep the Curly Locks Boxwood generally free of pests and diseases. Any problems can usually be treated successfully with our safe, organic, Neem Oil spray. It is normally not bothered by deer or rabbits. Avoid trimming with shears at any time – this is not a boxwood for topiary work. To show off the curly branches remove small twigs along the stems to expose the structure of the plant, as you wish to. More detailed trimming will of course be necessary if you are growing it as a bonsai.

History and Origin of the Curly Locks Boxwood

Japanese Boxwood, or littleleaf boxwood, Buxus microphylla var. japonica, is a plant that was introduced from Japan, where it is widely grown in gardens. Wild plants have never been found, so it could be a garden creation, or perhaps it became extinct in the wild at some point in the past. Early varieties proved to be more hardy and reliable in the American climate, and in many areas it is a better choice than the European boxwood, Buxus sempervirens. The variety called Curly Locks was first described by Donald Wyman, Director of the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard, in 1963. It had been discovered much earlier, in 1942, at the Kingsville Nursery, Maryland, who introduced it in 1946. It could easily have been a branch sport on another dwarf boxwood discovered early last century at that nursery, called ‘Kingsville’, but we don’t know that for sure.

Buying the Curly Locks Boxwood at the Tree Center

This unique tree is totally different from the normal bushy boxwoods grown for hedges. It’s a rare specimen plant, and only occasionally available from specialist nurseries. We found some excellent specimens to start you on your love-affair with this plant, but order now, because stock is limited and will soon all be gone.

Green Borders Boxwood

kylettc — Tue, 04 May 2021 13:42:54 +0000

The classic – and still very popular – use for boxwood is as low edging and hedges. With the profusion of varieties available it can be easy to buy the wrong one for a hedge, but you can’t go wrong when you choose the Green Borders Japanese Boxwood. For hedges, formal or informal, or for low planting, this variety has everything you need. It grows just a couple of feet tall – the perfect height – but it spreads outwards, giving a dense hedge to the ground with the maximum possible spacing (and plant economy) The horizontal branching pattern means you will keep branches right to the ground for ever, with good dense sides, and accidental gaps will soon fill in again. Plus, the small leaves give exactly that fine, dense look that makes boxwood so special. Finally, this is a variety of the dependable and cold-resistant Japanese boxwood, the ideal variety for cooler zones – and hot ones too. So much more successful than the English boxwood in all but the mildest areas. No more winter bronzing and dead branches throughout zone 5, and good results with some winter protection even in zone 4. Wherever you want a broad, spreading boxwood for hedges, mass planting, or cloud pruning in your Japanese-influenced garden, you can’t go wrong when you plant Green Borders.

Growing the Green Borders Japanese Boxwood

Size and Appearance

The Green Borders Japanese Boxwood is a selected variety of this cold-hardy species, the one most recommended for American gardens. An evergreen shrub, it has small leaves, no more than ¾ of an inch long and ½ an inch wide, arranged close together along the stems. They are glossy and smooth, oval-shaped with a broad, bluntly-pointed tip. New growth is a bright, light green and older leaves are a dark, rich, emerald-green. What makes this plant so special is the horizontal branching structure. The branches push outwards more than upwards, producing a low bush 2 to 3 feet tall, but one that is up to 4 feet wide. The leaves hold well during cold weather, without significant leaf-loss, and they stay green, with only minimal bronzing in cold zones. Older plants, especially if unpruned, may develop clusters of greenish-yellow flowers along the stems in spring. These are inconspicuous, but interesting.

Using the Green Borders Japanese Boxwood in Your Garden

This versatile plant can be grown without trimming as a casual evergreen around your home or in beds, planted singly or in clusters of 3, 5, or more. Although usually trimmed, boxwood bushed develop interesting mounded forms – in this case broad and low – that add lots of character as they mature. They can be trimmed minimally to emphasize this natural form as it develops. With its broad form, this variety is perfect for hedges, where it will stay dense and low. The broad form means you can plant up to 2 feet apart and still develop a dense hedge, although we recommend 18 inches as the maximum spacing.

Hardiness

Like all Japanese boxwood, Green Borders grows well in both zones 5 and 9 – areas where English boxwood doesn’t grow well. Everywhere in between it grows well too, and this species is the most reliable boxwood for American gardens.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Green Borders Japanese Boxwood will grow well in full sun and partial shade, even tolerating light full shade, but developing a more open growth structure. Maximum light will give the densest and most vigorous bushes. It grows well in almost any well-drained soil, only failing when planted in wet, boggy conditions. Once established it has reasonably drought tolerance, handling ordinary summer dry periods well.

Maintenance and Pruning

Although with some susceptibility to the pests and diseases that can bother all boxwoods, if fed regularly and watered during dry weather, this variety will normally grow without problems. It can be trimmed at any time from early spring to early fall. Don’t trim too late, as immature leaves are more prone to winter damage, and don’t trim during hot, dry periods, as the foliage may scorch. Always trim so that the sides of your hedge slope outwards slightly, to maintain light exposure, and therefore leaves, all the way to the ground. A narrow top – rounded or flat – is less likely to break in heavy snow.

History and Origin of the Green Borders Japanese Boxwood

The Green Borders Boxwood is a selected form of the Japanese Boxwood, Buxus microphylla var. japonica. It is the most cold-resistant of all boxwood species. We don’t yet have detailed information on the origins of this variety, officially called ‘Grebor’, but we do know it was developed at the nursery of the Greenleaf Nursery Company in El Campo, Texas. It was probably a selected branch mutation of an older variety of boxwood, spotted by sharp-eyed nursery workers. It is waiting to receive a patent, and it has been released as Green Borders, through Garden Debut, a Greenleaf subsidiary that makes valuable new garden plants available to gardeners across the country.

Buying the Green Borders Japanese Boxwood at the Tree Center

We know this new variety is going to be the answer to the question, “What is the best boxwood for hedges?” But it won’t stop there, because with its broad, low form it is also ideal for border planting in the foreground or middle-ground of your beds. The demand is going to be huge, so while we still can ship to you, order now.

Emerald Jewel Boxwood

thetreecenter — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 23:40:43 +0000

If you like your boxwoods a rich green, with small leaves and compact growth, then the Emerald Jewel Korean Boxwood is exactly what you want, and will love. The tiny ½ inch leaves are perfectly in scale with the small size of this plant, perfect for edging and accents in smaller spaces. Naturally forming a dense mound that needs no trimming, it is perfect for easy gardening, and stays green all year without bronzing. Of course you can also trim it, and it will respond by growing incredibly dense, giving you a perfect result. In warmer zones it can even be grown in pots, but it is in cold zones, where English boxwood will burn and often die, that this tougher Korean form really comes into its own. It will indeed soon become a jewel in your garden, sparkling rich green and simply perfect – everyone’s boxwood dream.

Growing the Emerald Jewel Korean Boxwood

Size and Appearance

The Emerald Jewel Boxwood is a small evergreen shrub with a naturally mounding habit, growing between 2 and 3 feet tall and wide. It can be clipped in the traditional way, or left to grow naturally, when it will become a beautiful mound with a neat but slightly irregular outline. This modern way of growing boxwood is perfect for busy gardeners, and suits the more relaxed look of our modern gardens. The leaves are exceptionally small, generally no more than ½ inch long, with a leathery texture and a smooth, glossy surface. Rounded ovals, they are bright green when new, soon becoming a very rich, dark green. That color holds well through heat and cold, and doesn’t turn unattractive bronze tones in the winter months, even in cold zones. It rarely flowers, and the small, greenish-yellow blooms are insignificant, and often overlooked. Plants that are regularly trimmed almost never flower.

Using the Emerald Jewel Korean Boxwood in Your Garden

The Emerald Jewel Boxwood is perfect wherever you want that neat, rounded evergreen accent. The rich color always looks perfect, and the natural shape is balanced and even. Trimmed it makes very dense low hedges, globes and fat pyramids, and it also grows well in pots and planter boxes, which can be left outdoors all winter if you are in zone 7 or warmer. In colder zones tip your plants out of the pot without disturbing the roots, and plant temporarily in a garden bed.

Hardiness

Korean boxwood is renowned for its winter hardiness, and the Emerald Jewel Boxwood is no exception. It is absolutely reliable in zone 5, and will grow in zone 4 with little or no winter injury. For the best winter survival in zone 4, water deeply and mulch the root-zone just before the ground freezes. Spraying with anti-desiccant will give a literal ‘extra-layer’ of protection.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Grow the Emerald Jewel Boxwood in full sun or in areas with a few hours of shade each day. In the hottest zones some afternoon shade is beneficial. It will also grow with minimal direct sun, but the growth will be looser and more open. It does best in rich, well-drained soils that are regularly moist, but grows well in most well-drained garden soils just fine. Enriching the ground with organic material, and mulching over the root system every year or two will make a big difference to its growth. Established plants have moderate resistance to normal drought periods, but if you can water a little, do so.

Pruning and Maintenance

Healthy plants rarely suffer from serious pest or disease problems. As well, deer and rabbits leave them alone, so you will have no issues growing this plant. Trimming young plants once a year for the first few years is worthwhile to develop a very dense internal structure, but not essential, and after that little or no trimming is needed, unless you want a super-formal look. Trim in late winter, before new growth develops, or in late spring, once the first flush of new leaves has darkened in color. You can also trim again after each flush of new growth, but don’t trim after early fall, and not at all then in cold zones. Always trim specimens or hedges wider at the bottom than the top, to keep leaves and branches right to the ground.

History and Origins of the Emerald Jewel Korean Boxwood

You might still see Korean Boxwood, Buxus sinica var. insularis, given its older name of Buxus microphylla var. koreana. Besides Korea, it can be found in China and Japan, and it is much better in typical American conditions than English boxwood. It is definitely best for both cold and hot zones, where it is much more resistant to damage. We don’t know much about the origin of the variety called Emerald Jewel . It made its first appearance in the 2018 catalog of Greenleaf Nursery Company, at their Park Hill, Oklahoma division.

Buying the Emerald Jewel Korean Boxwood at The Tree Center

If you want a dense, compact boxwood, with small leaves and a neat look that stays even without trimming, then the Emerald Jewel Boxwood is exactly what you want. Grow the neatest boxwood mounds and edging around, without spending hours trimming. Order now, as this relatively new variety is increasing in high demand, and soon sells out.

Emerald Knoll Korean Boxwood

thetreecenter — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 18:07:53 +0000

When choosing boxwood, the differences are subtle or even invisible in young plants, but become much more obvious when they mature. Even more so if you want to let them grow naturally, without the chore of clipping, but you want them to remain compact and low. If ‘compact and low’ is what you are looking for, then here it is. The Emerald Knoll Korean Boxwood forms a low mound, broader than tall, topping out at no more than 2 feet, but spreading to double that. For edging and fronting your beds it’s a natural, allowing for wider spacing and therefore reduced cost, and still giving you in a few years a perfect dense green finish to your beds, or along a walkway. As well, the leaves are unusually small and closely packed along the stems, so it looks the perfect miniature. Plus, being a Korean boxwood, it has excellent hardiness, and resistance to winter cold without unsightly bronzing, making it the perfect choice if you garden in colder zones.

Growing the Emerald Knoll Korean Boxwood

Size and Appearance

The Emerald Knoll Boxwood is a low, mounding evergreen shrub growing 3 to 4 inches a year, and reaching 18 to 24 inches within less than a decade. It has a broad spread, reaching 3 or even 4 feet wide in the same time-frame. It has a dense, twiggy structure and stays bushy and green right to the ground. Untrimmed it has an attractive billowy, mounding form, with flexible branches that don’t easily snap or break when laden with snow or ice. Trimmed (which is entirely optional) it develops a very dense and tight structure, making solid hedges and globes that can be as geometrical and perfect as you want them to be. The small leaves – about ½ inch long, and never more than 1-inch long – are smooth, glossy, rounded and leathery, closely packed along the stems. Their deep-green color is consistent all year round, without any of the typical bronzing and discoloration seen on older types of boxwood in winter. New growth is brighter green, rapidly darkening to a rich and beautiful color that is perfect for framing your flowering plants.

Using the Emerald Knoll Korean Boxwood in Your Garden

The Emerald Knoll Boxwood is the answer to all your edging needs, forming wonderful informal edges along beds if untrimmed, or easily trimmed into tight, low hedges down as low as 8 inches in you want, and up to 2 feet. With its tiny leaves it looks great either way, and fits just as well into a modern, informal or Asian-themed garden as it does into the classic ‘boxwood-hedges’ look of the most formal garden design. The broad spread means wider spacing is possible for hedges, meaning significant cost-savings can be made. This bush can also be clipped into balls, or left to form natural mounds, ideal for accenting your planting, ending a bed, or filling a gap among existing shrubs. From zone 7 it can be used in planter boxes left outdoors all year round. In colder zones, plant them temporarily in the garden, and re-pot in spring.

Hardiness

The Emerald Knoll Boxwood is a very hardy Korean boxwood, so it is rock-solid in zone 5, and reliable in zone 4 too, although there some tip-burn or a few brown leaves are possible. In zone 4 water deeply just before the ground freezes, mulch use anti-desiccant spray if necessary.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Whether in full sun or partial shade, the Emerald Knoll Boxwood will thrive. It even tolerates shade with just a couple of hours of sun each day, but growth could be a little thinner and more open. It grows in just about any well-drained soil, doing best in richer soils that are reasonably moist, so some preparation of the planting area with organic material is valuable.

Maintenance and Pruning

Although boxwood can be bothered by some pests or diseases, the Emerald Knoll Korean Boxwood is more reliable than many others, and generally stays healthy and clean. It isn’t bothered by either deer or rabbits, so once established it can be left to take care of itself. Although perfect for natural, untrimmed growth, it does help to trim young plants once a year for the first few years, as this builds dense internal structure. After that no further trimming is needed, unless you want that formal look, or a Japanese ‘cloud pruning’ style. The ideal time to trim is in late spring, once the new growth has darkened in color. You can also trim in early summer and in early fall if needed, but avoid fall trimming in colder zones, if you can.

History and Origin of the Emerald Knoll Korean Boxwood

The Korean Boxwood, Buxus sinica var. insularis, is still sometimes called by its older name of Buxus microphylla var. koreana. It is more cold-hardy and generally tougher than the English boxwood, and highly recommended for American gardens in both cold and hot zones. The Emerald Knoll Boxwood was found in 1991 by Robert and Lisa Head, of Head’s Select Inc., a plant breeding nursery in Seneca, South Carolina. It was a unique branch growing on a variety called Kingsville Dwarf. It produced plants that were faster-growing, as well as more spreading and billowy than the parent, and so less prone to pests and diseases or winter breakage. They named the new plant RLH-BI, and it was originally distributed from 2012 by Greenleaf Nursery of Oklahoma, with the trademarked name Emerald Knoll® as part of their Garden Debut® collection. However in 2020 the trademark was canceled, meaning that today we can either call it RLH-BI Korean Boxwood, or use Emerald Knoll as a common name, which we have chosen to do. Some experts believe it may be identical to an earlier existing variety called Tide Hill, which future DNA studies may confirm.

Buying the Emerald Knoll Korean Boxwood at the Tree Center

If you love mounds of boxwood, but hate trimming, or simply don’t have the time, then the Emerald Knoll Boxwood is for you. Enjoy a great look with broad, spreading, dense plants – but no trimming. Whether you want accents, edging or potted plants, and also if you do want low trimmed hedges, this bush is a top choice, especially in areas with cold, snowy winters. Order now, as this variety remains rare and hard to find, so take advantage of their limited availability.

Faulkner Boxwood

thetreecenter — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 11:58:07 +0000

Glencoe Boxwood

kylettc — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 19:20:32 +0000

Everyone, wherever they garden, loves boxwood. As neat, rounded shapes, hedges, or growing untrimmed, this traditional garden shrub has a unique and distinctive look, with its small green leaves and dense growth. For gardeners in colder zones it can, sadly, be a frustrating plant to grow. Like most other broadleaf evergreens, it can suffer in winter cold, meaning scorched leaves, dead branches, and even a dead plant. In zones 4 and 5 it can be ‘touch and go’ every winter with boxwoods, but not if you grow the Glencoe Boxwood. This variety, developed in Chicago, has proven itself to be incredibly cold resistant. In the winter of 1993-94, when it was being tested, temperatures fell to minus 37o Fahrenheit, equivalent to zone 3, without any damage. It has a good dense, rounded form and rich green leaves, looking just like a classic English boxwood shrub – what more could we ask for?

Growing the Glencoe Boxwood

Size and Appearance

The Glencoe Boxwood is a dense, rounded evergreen, with many closely-packed branches, covered in small green leaves. It grows between 4 and 6 inches a year, and if left unclipped it will develop into a broad, oval plant, standing 3 or 4 feet tall, and as much as 5 feet wide. Trimmed it can be kept as small as 12 inches tall indefinitely. The leaves, packed closely along the stems, are less than an inch long, and they are rounded, with a slightly leathery texture, and a smooth, glossy surface. They are a rich, deep but bright green, and they hold that color well all year round, without bronzing in winter or yellowing in summer.

Using the Glencoe Boxwood in Your Garden

With its dense structure, the Glencoe Boxwood is a natural for clipping into hedges and rounded shapes. Like all boxwood it clipped well, re-sprouting quickly and very soon looking lush and fresh again. Use it to create hedges below 2 feet tall, spacing the plants 12 inches apart for a taller hedge, and 8 inches apart for a very low one under 12 inches tall. Use these hedges to edge your beds, giving your garden a classic formal look. Grow the Glencoe Boxwood as rounded balls to accent your beds or spaced out along a pathway. It will make lovely accents paired beside an entrance, or at the corners of a square or rectangular area. In zone 6 or warmer it can be grown in pots left outdoors all winter, around the garden or on terraces. In less formal gardens it can be grown unclipped. It will still be dense, but it will mature to a slightly irregular mound of great charm – try it.

Hardiness

The Glencoe Boxwood was developed in Chicago, and it is completely and reliably hardy in zone 5, and all the way into zone 8. As mentioned earlier, it has withstood temperatures of minus 37o, so you can be confident that it will be completely hardy in zone 4, where the minimums are only minus 30o. It is certainly also worth growing in zone 3, where protection from winds and spraying with antidesiccant is recommended.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Glencoe Boxwood is versatile when it comes to light conditions. It grows most reliably in light partial shade, but it also has been tested and shown to perform well in garden areas all the way from full sun to light continuous shade. That might be in the shadow of tall trees, or of a building, or in light dappled shade beneath deciduous trees. It grows easily in almost all garden soils, preferring richer, moist well-drained soils, and not doing well in areas that are always wet and poorly-drained. Enrich the planting area with organic material and use it regularly as mulch.

Maintenance and Pruning

If you plan on clipping your Glencoe Boxwood regularly, we recommend you use evergreen fertilizer from spring into the fall. In colder zones stop fertilizing by late summer, to avoid developing soft new growth that is more easily damaged in winter. You can clip almost anytime, especially in warmer zones, but the best pattern is to clip in late spring, after the new leaves have darkened and matured, and then again each time new growth matures, ending in late summer to allow the last flush of growth to mature and toughen up for the winter. That way it will look most attractive through the cold months. For hedges and smaller balls it is best to clip lightly from the beginning, to develop a dense structure from top to bottom.

History and Origin of the Glencoe Boxwood

Boxwood has a long history in America, arriving with the first settlers, but it didn’t turn out to be very hardy in colder areas. As a result there is also a long tradition of developing tough, hardy forms suitable for northern conditions. The variety called ‘Glencoe’ was found among the extensive boxwood collections of the Chicago Botanic Garden, in Glencoe, Illinois, in the early 1990s, when they were testing for cold-resistant varieties. Its exact origin is not known, but experts tell us it looks very close to the hybrid variety ‘Green Velvet’, but more cold resistant. That variety is a hybrid between the English boxwood, Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ and the Korean boxwood, Buxus sinensis var. insularis, so it is possible Glencoe is a similar hybrid plant. The botanic garden, along with the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois and the Ornamental Growers Association of Northern Illinois have created a not-for-profit corporation called Chicagoland Grows, Inc. to promote plants developed for colder areas. They have trademarked this plant as Chicagoland Green®, a name for ‘Glencoe’ that you may see used.

Buying the Glencoe Boxwood at The Tree Center

The Glencoe Boxwood is a real break-through for gardeners in zones 5, 4 and even 3, so we know how fast these plants are going to be leaving our farm. Wherever you garden it is a top-pick rounded boxwood, of proven reliability. Everyone loves boxwood, so order what you need right away – they aren’t going to last long.

Highlander Boxwood

kylettc — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 18:43:28 +0000

Perfectly trimmed hedges of boxwood are elite features in any garden, and always desirable for their fine texture and special look. They typically take years to create – which is of course why they are ‘elite’ – but now you can enjoy a perfect boxwood hedge 6 feet tall in just a few years, with the amazing Highlander Boxwood. This is almost certainly the fastest growing boxwood around, growing as much as 2½ feet in a single year. Think about it, at that rate a 6-foot hedge is just 3 years away, although more realistically it will probably take about 5 years. Compare that to classic boxwood, which only adds about 6 inches a year – so 12 years to get to 6 feet, and even then, the upper section will still be thin. As well, the growth of the Highlander Boxwood is tight and vertical, so it doesn’t waste energy and growth on side branches that will only be clipped away. It is perfect as well for creating columns and pyramids as vertical accents, and its very rich, extra-dark green foliage stands out, always looking perfect, all year round,

Growing the Highlander Boxwood

Size and Appearance

The Highlander Boxwood is an upright evergreen shrub with a narrow vertical profile, reaching at least 5 feet tall within 5 years, with a natural spread at that time of 3 to 4 feet. Its branches are slender and grow vertically upright, keeping a narrow profile that adds height without excess width. It is however wide enough to avoid the need for staking to provide collapse under snow or in storms, unlike some other very narrow, vertical boxwoods. The glossy leaves are an unusually deep and rich green color, which doesn’t show any significant browning or bronzing during the winter months. The leaves are between ½ and 1 inch long, with a notched tip and a broad oval shape. Inconspicuous flowers may be seen in March or April, all along the stems, particularly in unclipped plants. These are small, yellow-green and without petals, and they attract bees.

Using the Highlander Boxwood in Your Garden

With its fast growth rate and upright habit, this bush is perfect for hedges, of any height from 3 to 6 feet. For a dense, continuous look, plant no more than18 inches apart if you are creating a lower hedge, or 2 feet apart for a taller hedge. A boxwood hedge is perfect to separate one part of the garden from another; to hide unsightly garden objects like AC, pumps or meters; to hide a wall or fence; or to separate your garden from a neighbor. It can also be quickly turned into upright columns or pyramids, either round or square, and other fancier topiary, like spirals and upright poodles. These look perfect paired on either side of a gate or doorway, at the corners of beds, or spaced out along a path, forming a gracious avenue. Left unclipped it will grow into an upright bush that fits well into less formal beds, giving height without a lot of width and naturally growing bushy.

Hardiness

The Highlander Boxwood is reliably hardy in zone 5, without burning or bronzing. It also grows well in warmer zones, although zone 9 in the south-east can be too hot and humid for boxwood plants.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Highlander Boxwood is very adaptable for sunlight. It will be densest and darkest in full sun, but it grows almost as well with a few hours of shade each day, and even in light, dappled shade, such as near deciduous trees or on the north side of a house.

Maintenance and Pruning

Regular application of evergreen fertilizer, and thorough soil preparation, with plenty of rich organic material dug in, will give you the maximum growth from your Highlander Boxwood. Because of its vigorous growth it is generally free of pests and diseases, and regular clipping is beneficial for pest control. Make the first trim when the spring growth has darkened in color, and then as needed through the season, allowing time in fall for the last flush of leaves to mature before the cold of winter arrives. Always keep the upper part of your hedge narrower than the base, by sloping the sides inwards at a slight angle. This will keep your hedge dense and green right to the ground. A narrow top also gives protection from winter damage by ice and snow.

History and Origin of the Highlander Boxwood

American boxwood, Buxus sempervirens, arrived in America in 1653 with the first colonists and it has been popular ever since in all but the coldest zones. There are many different forms, and around 2000 Norman Cole III, who owns Cole Nursery, Pipestem, West Virginia, was tending to a block of boxwood he had grown from cuttings. Among them he spotted one that stood out – it had much darker-green foliage, and it had grown much taller than the others. He separated it and grew more from it, and after testing he realized how valuable this fast-growing bush was. He named it ‘Highlander’ and patented it in 2012, with Star® Roses and Plants, from West Grove, Pennsylvania, taking over its growing and distribution.

Buying the Highlander Boxwood at The Tree Center

You used to need incredible patience to grow boxwood hedges more than a couple of feet tall, but with the Highlander Boxwood that is a thing of the past. Order yours now and sharpen up those trimmers, because the hedge of your dreams is about to become a reality. But order now, while our limited stock lasts, as we would hate to disappoint you.