Evergreen boxwood: photo, planting, propagation and care. Boxwood What is made from boxwood trees

08.01.2024

In Europe and Western Asia, four types of boxwood are known: boxwood evergreen, boxwood Colchian, boxwood Balearic and boxwood Hyrcanian. Some scientists consider the listed varieties of boxwood to be separate species, some - only geographical forms of evergreen boxwood. In Asia, the two most common types of boxwood are small-leaved boxwood and Garlanda boxwood.

Boxwood (lat. Buxus) is a genus of evergreen, slow-growing trees and shrubs with opposite leaf arrangement, the boxwood family; many of its species grow in protected areas and are considered rare and even endangered.

Wood species Boxwood

The Latin generic name Buxus comes from the ancient Greek - bux, boxwood. According to various sources, the genus includes from 30 to 70 species, distributed mainly in the subtropics and tropics in Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, Europe, Western India and Africa, and the Caucasus. Only the northern representatives of the genus, native to Europe and Asia, are relatively winter-hardy. Colchian boxwood enters our country from the northern edge of its range - in the Caucasus. In the territory of the former USSR, two species grow wild and four species have been introduced. The reserves of boxwood wood were barbarously exterminated in the past and are currently extremely small and difficult to access. Beautiful forests with boxwood near Khosta have been turned into a nature reserve.

Boxwood leaves are leathery, entire, usually glabrous, with pinnate veining and short petioles. They have an ovoid, elliptical or almost rounded shape and reach a length from 50 mm to 4.5 cm. In the shade, boxwood leaves are dark green, in the sun they are light. When drought occurs, the leaves become yellowish; the soil should be permeable and rich in humus. The buds are covered with several opposite scales. The inflorescences are axillary or terminal, capitate-spike-shaped, with 1-3 apical pistillate flowers and the rest staminate flowers, the perianth is simple. The fruit is an ovoid three-horned capsule, splitting into three two-horned valves with two seeds in each nest. The seeds are black, smooth, shiny, sometimes with barely noticeable ribs.

In nature, boxwood reproduces by seeds and vegetatively; in culture, propagation by cuttings is possible. Summer cuttings are usually taken from late June to mid-July. Autumn cuttings are cut in late August - early September. Boxwood is planted in the spring (the plants have time to take root and prepare for winter). However, you can plant boxwood in the fall (mid-September - early October). Seedlings should be bushy, shoots and leaves should be green.

Boxwood prefers fresh and easily drained fertile soils on lime-containing rocks; It grows, as a rule, under the forest canopy, in deep gorges, but often appears on limestone rocks, forming open spaces. In the cold season, it suffers from winter winds, late spring frosts, and the change from low temperatures to thaws; Snowless winters are also dangerous for boxwood. In early spring it can get serious burns. Boxwood will overwinter well in the presence of snow cover and shading, but branches may break under the weight of snow. Moisture evaporates from evergreen boxwood leaves even in winter, but the roots will not replenish the lack of moisture when the soil freezes.

Among the diseases and defects of boxwood, the following can be noted: core fissuring, black rays, external and annular fissuring, fine lumpy swelling and curling; trees older than 200 years are affected by heart rot, which spreads up the trunk rather slowly. Rust fungus is sometimes found on boxwood leaves; The decomposition of wood is caused by the box tinder fungus.

Representatives of the genus

Evergreen boxwood, or common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)- a slow-growing small evergreen tree, in nature reaching a height of 10-15 m, in cultivation - 1.5-3 m, sometimes growing as a bush. Durable, lives up to 500 years or more. The branches are straight, protruding, green, tetrahedral, densely arranged, covered with green, bilaterally pubescent, densely leafy shoots when young. The bark is yellowish-gray, smooth, finely fissured on old trunks. Leaves on short petioles, almost sessile, ovate or elliptical, reach 1.5-3 cm in length, 0.5-1.3 cm in width, dark green above, shiny, leathery, light green below, almost yellow and matte. The flowers are small, greenish, fragrant, located in axillary inflorescences. The fruit is a brown-black ovoid-spherical capsule, 5-10 mm long and 5-6 mm wide, with horns. Blooms in March-April; the fruits ripen in July.

The most extensive of the species of the genus, the natural range of the evergreen boxwood is broken, it covers Algeria in the west, northern and eastern Spain, southern and central France, Macedonia, northern Greece, Asia Minor, southeastern England, southern Germany. Widely cultivated, especially in the Crimea, where it can withstand significant frosts (down to -30°C) without damage; in the Caucasus - mainly on the Black Sea coast; further north, up to St. Petersburg, it winters only under snow; somewhat more stable in Latvia; in Penza it winters under cover without damage; in Kazakhstan it is damaged by frost and does not bloom; in Central Asia it freezes over in severe winters. Many cultivated forms are less winter-hardy. It grows wild widely in the Mediterranean, and has long been cultivated as an ornamental plant wherever climatic conditions permit. It has many varieties and forms, which differ mainly in the growth form of adult plants; there are forms with variegated leaves.

Grows in moderately dry places, mainly in the undergrowth of mixed deciduous forests, also on screes; prefers soils containing lime. In the mountains it rises in France to 1650 m above sea level, in Spain - up to 1900 m and in Greece - up to 2000 m. Used since ancient times - this is a classic plant for topiary processing: it has a decorative dense crown and shiny foliage, grows quite slowly, therefore it retains its given shape for a long time. In Western Europe it is widely used to create monuments and various green figures, living walls and hedges, etc.

Colchian or Caucasian boxwood (Buxus colchica)- a tree up to 15-18 m high with an ovoid, densely leafy crown and a straight, but strongly tapering trunk, reaching 45-50 cm in diameter. Very close to the evergreen boxwood, sometimes the Colchian boxwood is considered a subspecies of the evergreen boxwood. The bark is light yellow, smooth on branches and fissured on old trunks, relatively thin (no more than 1 cm). The shoots are green, tetrahedral, pubescent on both sides when young. The leaves are leathery, dark green above, shiny, with clearly visible veins, pale green below, matte, glabrous. The leaves vary greatly in shape: from ovate to lanceolate, 1-3 cm long, 0.5-1.8 cm wide. Flowers are sessile, greenish, in axillary capitate spikes, the fruit is an ovoid-spherical capsule, dense-skinned, 8- 9.5 mm long and 4.5-5 mm wide. It blooms in March-April, bears fruit in July.

Distribution area: western Transcaucasia, Northern Caucasus, Asia Minor, north-eastern Turkey. It is found at altitudes from sea level to 600 m in the Sochi region and up to 1000 m in Abkhazia. This is the smallest-leaved and most winter-hardy of the European boxwood species. It is unusually shade-tolerant, found mainly under the canopy of hornbeam and hornbeam-beech forests, as well as under ash-linden stands and even under the canopy of the second tier of yew. Grows on coastal pebble soils, on sandy alluvial soils, on clay and loamy soils, on rocks - if there is lime in the soil, it forms open spaces on calcareous rocks; common on soils with sufficient moisture. On deep soils it forms a powerful taproot system, going deep into the soil; on shallow soils, it forms a superficial root system, sometimes going into rock cracks. Moss grows abundantly on the branches and trunks of boxwood.

On deep carbonate fertile soils, by the age of 100, Colchian boxwood can reach 9 m in height with an average trunk diameter of 10-12 cm. By the age of 150, it reaches 10 m in height and produces from 1147 to 1340 trunks per hectare with a wood reserve of 40-51 m 3. In the period from 40 to 150 years, under these conditions, over 2 thousand trunks go to waste; on less powerful soils, it produces more trunks per 1 hectare and grows even more slowly. With lightening from the upper canopy, growth increases significantly, and fruiting of trees increases ten and even 100 times. Under natural conditions, it is perfectly renewed by seed and produces an average of 100 thousand self-seeding per 1 hectare.

When growing in freedom, it begins to bear fruit at the age of 15; in plantings - from 40-60 years. Seed procurement is carried out in late July - early August. They should be sown immediately after harvest; they germinate in 30-40 days, but seedlings appear only next spring. Single boxwood produces root shoots; after cutting down, it produces shoots from the stump, which for some was the basis for considering it a shrub. It tolerates annual heavy haircuts well and retains its shape for a long time. When propagated by cuttings, it takes root easily and grows faster than when propagated by seeds. The seed method has great advantages, since in this case the features characteristic of numerous forms are preserved.

The plant is of enormous importance for gardening and has not yet been sufficiently appreciated in the Caucasus and Crimea. Even in St. Petersburg, when covered for the winter, it is not damaged by frost, blooms and bears fruit. Deserves further widespread testing in culture.

Balearic boxwood (Buxus balearica)- the largest tree of the Eurasian group of boxwoods, reaching 20 m in height, with a broad pyramidal crown, sometimes looking like a large bush. The shoots are initially slightly hairy, then bare. The leaves are wide, ovate or ovate-oblong, 3-4.5 cm long, 1.5-2.3 cm wide; whole, leathery, with clearly visible venation on the underside. The flowers are large. Distribution area: Balearic Islands, Spain, Sardinia, Portugal, gorges of the Atlas Mountains in northern Morocco. Grows in mild maritime climates. Cultivated on the southern coast of Crimea since 1817 and in the Caucasus, mainly on the Black Sea coast; bears fruit. Quite frost-resistant, withstands down to -18°C, and in protected places up to -20°C, but is not winter-hardy in climates with constantly negative temperatures in Eastern Europe. Grows faster than other species, especially in middle age. Used for the same purposes as other types.

Hyrcanian boxwood (Buxus hyrcana)- a species very close to Colchis boxwood, differs on average in larger leaves, pubescence, passing from the petiole to the midrib on the underside of the leaf blade; never takes on a tree-like form. It blooms in March-April, bears fruit in August. Distribution zones - Caucasus and Iran. Forms undergrowth in forests of hornbeam and chestnut-leaved oak in the lower and middle mountain zones. In winter hardiness it is inferior to evergreen boxwood.

Small-leaved boxwood (Buxus microphylla) is a compact shrub reaching 1-1.2 m in height. Young shoots are bare, tetrahedral. The leaves are obovate or lanceolate-obovate, with a rounded or notched apex and a wedge-shaped base, 0.5-2.5 cm in length and 0.3-1.5 cm in width. Inflorescences terminal, flowers sessile; blooms in March, April, May. Area of distribution: Japan. In culture since 1860. Used for borders and low hedges.

Garland boxwood (Buxus harlandii)- a small shrub reaching 2 m in height. Shoots, petioles, bases of blades and leaf veins are pubescent. The leaves are oblong or broadly obovate, the fruit is almost round, 8 mm long and 7 mm wide. Distribution area: China. A beautiful ornamental shrub, suitable for the same purposes as the species listed above. Less winter-hardy than other species.

Wood

Table 1. Physical and mechanical properties of boxwood
Colchian at humidity 13-15%

Table 2. Physical and mechanical properties of boxwood
Hyrcanian

Boxwood wood is diffusely vascular, mature wood, coreless, very dense, freshly cut even sinks in water. In a freshly cut tree, the sapwood and mature wood differ barely noticeably in color, the structure of the wood is uniform, but sometimes there is an uneven distribution of fibers. Tree rings are visible only on well-polished wood. Dry wood has a color from light yellow to waxy with a matte sheen, sometimes a grayish tint; Over time it darkens a little. The annual layers are narrow, slightly wavy, the medullary rays and vessels are small; only medullary rays can be distinguished with the naked eye in a cross section. Vessels with ladder perforations, fibers with bordered pores. The woody parenchyma is abundant, the rays are heterogeneous, 1-5 rows, mostly 3 rows.

Boxwood wood is one of the most valuable. Dense, very heavy, very strong and hard; well polished, the color and shine resembles ivory, but at the same time retains the warmth of tone. In terms of physical and mechanical properties, boxwood wood is close to hornbeam: the volumetric weight of boxwood is 20% higher, the compressive strength is almost 40% higher, the end hardness is almost twice, but the static bending strength is 12% lower.

Old trees are often characterized by curvature of the trunk, deep depressions are noted under the bases of the branches, sometimes there is a dark-colored false core and numerous knots. All this significantly reduces the yield of quality wood.

Boxwood wood dries quite slowly, cracks, warps, splits, dries out strongly, volumetric drying can reach 30%, whereas usually for domestic species it does not exceed 20%. When exposed to moisture, boxwood easily loses its color saturation. Resistance to biological influences is low. Therefore, it is necessary to dry boxwood wood very carefully, using gentle methods, and store wet wood so that moisture exchange is minimal. But if boxwood wood was properly and efficiently dried and stored in accordance with the requirements, then with significant changes in the temperature and humidity conditions of the environment it exhibits fairly high stability of size and shape.

It is quite difficult to split, but can be processed very well with hand and machine cutting tools, in particular during turning and carving. Wood dust generated during processing can cause allergic reactions.

Since ancient times, there have been methods of painting boxwood black. In the Middle Ages, a boxwood product was placed in diluted nitric acid overnight, and in the morning it was boiled in the same composition for one hour. Now, to paint boxwood black, small dry blocks of wood are impregnated in an autoclave with a dye solution at a temperature of 200°C. After drying for two days, the bars are treated with a solution of ferric acetate. After this treatment, boxwood becomes similar not only in appearance, but also in properties to ebony.

Usage

Boxwood wood was used to make parts of machines, tools, printing presses, and measuring instruments, which required high wear resistance and a perfectly smooth surface. Boxwood was widely used for various crafts, small utensils, chess pieces, carved tool handles, spindles, buttons, reels, combs and musical instruments. Previously, veneer was made from boxwood (now in small quantities). Since boxwood wood is very expensive and offers for its sale are not often found, boxwood veneer is a rare and expensive material - it is used mainly for inlays.

Boxwood has long been used for landscaping, including the creation of hedges and borders. There were references to the decorative cultivation of this plant in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Boxwood is still widely used for landscaping today, as it tolerates urban conditions well, and the slow growth and decorative properties of the main species make it one of the main types of topiary art. With proper care and pruning, boxwood can take on a variety of shapes.

All parts of the plant, especially the leaves, are poisonous. The bark and leaves contain a number of alkaloids. A decoction of the bark in lye turns the animal fiber brown. An infusion of the bark and leaves was used as a laxative and diaphoretic. In addition, boxwood is an excellent honey plant. The seeds contain up to 36.75% oil with an iodine value of 175.5. Boxwood is widely used in ornamental gardening, especially evergreen boxwood. It is suitable for group and single plantings, borders, borders, flower beds, etc. It is used as one of the classic plants in topiary processing. Also suitable for tub culture.

Elena KARPOVA,
Anton KUZNETSOV, Ph.D. biol. Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of General Ecology,
plant physiology and wood science SPbGLTU

Boxwood (buxus) – evergreen, slow-growing, shade-tolerant plant. Depending on the type, the tree reaches a height of 2 to 12 meters. It has densely leafy shoots with opposite, round, dark green leaves. The plant has gained popularity due to its decorative crown and shiny foliage. But it should be remembered that all parts of the plant are poisonous.

The agricultural technology for growing boxwood is quite simple. The plant does not require a certain temperature and humidity; it thrives in open areas and in partial shade.

Benefit.

Ancient healers used the medicinal properties of boxwood to treat coughs, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, fever, and malaria. Currently, preparations based on boxwood are prohibited by traditional medicine due to its toxicity, since it is difficult to guess the dosage. Exceeding the dose may cause seizures and death. But homeopaths successfully use boxwood to treat rheumatism.

In addition to its magical properties, boxwood is used by designers to decorate a site. Looks good in a single planting, in the design of curtains and hedges. Boxwood is a slow-growing tree, but eventually reaches 12-15 m in height. This fact should be taken into account and a spacious area should be chosen for planting so that the boxwood does not shade other plants in the future.

Due to the fact that the crown of boxwood is easy to trim, you can create beautiful living figures from it. Evergreen tall trees are planted in unsightly places to mask the flaws of the site. For border decoration, creating hedges and decorating parterres, low-growing varieties are used.

Landing.

No special knowledge is required to plant boxwood. Three-year-old plants can be replanted at any time of the year. It is better to choose autumn for planting young plants. When choosing seedlings, you should give preference to container options. It is necessary to pay attention to the condition of the foliage and shoots. Signs of a healthy plant are lushness and green foliage. Yellowing of the leaves indicates the imminent death of the plant.

Planting is carried out in cloudy weather. In the prepared area, you should dig holes that will be slightly wider in diameter than the earthen ball. It is easier to focus on the size of the container in which the seedling was purchased. If you plan to create a hedge, you will need to dig a wide and deep ditch.

The planting hole must be cleared of any remaining building materials, sand and yellow loam must be removed. The bottom of the trench is covered with a layer of compost and mixed with the soil using a fork. When preparing seedlings, you should pay attention to the roots: they should not stick out in different directions.

Before planting, the plant and container are immersed in water so that the roots are saturated with moisture. The planted plants are covered with earth. When choosing the planting depth, you need to take into account subsequent trampling, because when the soil near the seedling is compacted, the stem neck will go down. You need to make a small depression near the trunk so that water after watering does not spread to the sides. After planting, boxwood is watered abundantly.

Care.

The shrub does not require special attention, but there are some nuances, if observed, you can grow a hedge or decorate the area with intricate figures.

Air humidity and temperature.

Not all types of boxwood tolerate harsh winters well. When the thermometer drops below -20 °C, an uncovered plant may die. Therefore, the main condition for good cultivation and preservation of the variety is timely mulching of the soil in the tree trunk circle and covering the boxwood for the winter. You can protect the tree from frost and temperature changes by wrapping the bush with non-woven material. You can use burlap for this. It protects the bush from the wind and protects the foliage from the bright rays of the sun in frosty weather. Depending on the climate, it is recommended to choose frost-resistant varieties and plant trees in protected areas.

You cannot use plastic film to cover boxwood. If you wrap a bush in cellophane, condensation will form inside, parts of the plant will begin to rot and the plant will die.

Watering.

Potted plants require daily watering; separately growing trees need additional moisture only in dry summers. Precipitation helps replenish the lack of moisture. If it doesn’t rain for a long time, boxwood is watered generously once a month. The soil in the tree trunk circle needs to be loosened and weeded to remove weeds. The plant loves water treatments, so a short shower will benefit it. You should only shower boxwood early in the morning or in the evening. It is at this time that the scorching rays of the sun are absent, and they will not be able to burn the delicate foliage of the trees.

Lighting.

Shade is not a problem for boxwood, so it can also be grown in shaded areas. In addition, it tolerates proximity well to other shrubs and trees. Direct sunlight can cause damage to the plant, so when choosing a place for planting, you should choose a semi-shaded area or create artificial shade for the shrub.

Feeding.

Boxwood grows well in fertile, nutritious soil. Fertilizing with organic fertilizers should be carried out after the planted seedling has completely taken root. Plants begin to be fed from the second year after planting. In the spring you need to apply complex fertilizers, which include potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. In autumn, fertilize with superphosphate and potassium salt.

Trimming and decorative haircut.

You need to prune in the second year after planting. Boxwood is trimmed once a month from May to August. During this period, the most active growth of the bush is observed. To give the plant the desired geometric shape, special tools are used. During subsequent cutting, you only need to adjust the shape by removing protruding shoots.

Frequent trimming of boxwood trees should be accompanied by fertilization and watering. Thus, the loss of nutrients is replenished. In addition, the plant will not begin to shed its leaves.

Haircutting tools.

Special scissors for cutting boxwood They have short blades, so cutting with them is very convenient. The blades of the scissors must be sharp. Otherwise, they will always slide off and disrupt the integrity of the escape.

Cordless hedge trimmer convenient for cutting. If there are only 2-3 bushes growing on the site, there is no point in buying an expensive tool; you can use ordinary scissors. Only an experienced gardener can trim with an electric hedge trimmer, while a beginner is better off using mechanical tools.

Sheep shears suitable for pruning non-lignified shoots. This tool is convenient to use for processing the contours of shapes. Recommended for regular haircuts.

Boxwood balls.

You can get a beautiful boxwood ball even without a special tool. You can do this. First, on the spherical crown, a horizontal “equator” should be cut in a circle, then 4 paths - “meridians”, which are located in the vertical direction. Now you should move some distance away and see if the lines are straight. If the paths have no flaws, you only need to trim the remaining branches.

To make the task easier, you can use a cardboard template. First you need to measure the diameter of the ball using an inch ruler. Then take a felt-tip pen and tie a cord to its end, the length of which should be equal to half the diameter of the ball. Now you need to fix the measured length of the cord on the cardboard. This can be done using your thumb and index finger, or using a wide eyed needle. Now all that remains is to draw a semicircle with a felt-tip pen and cut out the template. The finished semicircle should be attached to the boxwood and all branches protruding beyond the template should be cut off.

It's only the first cut that's difficult. All subsequent procedures are carried out regularly and consist only of trimming the contours.

Boxwood propagation.

Reproduction begins in summer and autumn. Boxwood cuttings take root well. Only 20% of planted cuttings may not take root. To avoid losses, you need to know which cuttings are suitable for propagation and how to root correctly.

Choosing the time for cuttings.

The active growth period of boxwood begins in April and ends in September. Once a month during the growing season, trimming is required. Cuttings can be rooted throughout the season. But it should be taken into account that if planted in August or September, they may die over the winter. Some cuttings taken from an adult plant in April and May may not take root, since the growing season is in full swing and they have not had time to ripen.

The most suitable time for cuttings is June and July. At this time, the cuttings take root well, and the seedlings have time to take root, build up their root system and withstand the winter more easily.

Preparing cuttings for planting.

The success of rooting depends on the preparation of cuttings for planting. They should be ripe, but not lignified. Cuttings should be cut with a sharp garden knife at an angle of 45 °C, thus increasing the area of root formation. All leaves need to be removed, leaving only 2-3 pieces. at the very top. This procedure helps reduce moisture evaporation. The lower part of the cutting can be dipped in the rooting solution.

Preparing containers and soil mixture for rooting cuttings.

You can root cuttings in pots, boxes, cut plastic bottles. The depth of the container should be such that the lower part of the planted cuttings does not touch the bottom of the container.

Holes should be made in prepared containers to allow water to drain and filled with soil. The cuttings should be stuck into the soil, leaving only part of the petiole with leaves on the surface. After planting the cuttings, you cannot water the soil, you can only moisten it. After this, you need to cover the containers with a bag or glass.

Caring for cuttings.

Care consists of timely moistening the soil and ventilating the mini-greenhouse. During rooting, the cuttings should not touch each other or the shelter. Failure to comply with this rule will result in the cutting starting to rot and die. Root formation will occur in 2 weeks, and after a month the cuttings will be completely rooted. Now the greenhouse can be opened and watered as needed.

Correct planting of cuttings in a permanent place.

Rooted seedlings can be planted in a permanent place after 2 months from the start of rooting. By this time, they have formed a fairly developed root system. Boxwood develops well on fertile, permeable and moist soils, a little worse on poor ones. Therefore, the soil must be fertilized with compost. Planted seedlings cannot be fed in the first month after planting. Watering should be regular, since drying out the earthen coma can destroy the plant.

Preparing for winter.

Young seedlings need to be prepared for winter. In autumn, it is recommended to mulch the soil near the boxwood: put fallen leaves, compost, and sprinkle with peat. To prevent the seedlings from dying in severe frost, you need to cover them with burlap or agrofibre, having first built a frame from available material. Spruce branches are suitable for insulation, as they retain heat well, allow air to pass through, and prevent plants from drying out when the air temperature rises.

For mulching, you cannot use crushed oak bark, painted pine shavings, or pine sawdust. They help lower the pH level of the soil.

Types of boxwood.

The Boxwood family includes about 30 species of plants, each of which differs in growth intensity, bark color, distribution area, shape and color of leaves. Gardeners prefer to grow common or evergreen boxwood. It is better to choose Chinese low-growing varieties as tub plants.

Boxwood is evergreen.

Natural growing conditions are the Mediterranean countries and the Caucasus. It develops well both in a brightly lit area and in partial shade. Evergreen boxwood has protruding, straight, densely leafy, tetrahedral shoots. Leaves vary in shape. The top is dark green and the bottom is light green. It blooms with small greenish flowers. Evergreen boxwood is practically not damaged by pests and diseases. When starting a variety, it is worth remembering that all parts of boxwood are poisonous.

The dwarf shrub, unlike the evergreen boxwood, is more resistant to low temperatures and tolerates even the harshest winters. The decorative and compact shape of the crown of small-leaved boxwood has made this species popular among gardeners.

A fast-growing large species with leaves reaching a length of 5 cm. It is common in countries with warm climates, as it does not tolerate harsh winters.

Pests, diseases and their control.

For humans, boxwood is a poisonous plant, but for insects the harmful components do not pose a danger, so trees are sometimes damaged by pests and susceptible to diseases.

Spider mite and boxwood gall midge.

Insects lay their eggs on the shoots of the plant. After some time, the voracious larvae begin to feed on leaf tissue. To combat insects, plants are treated with chemicals, regularly trimmed, fallen leaves are collected and burned.

FungusVoluttlla buxi.

A sign of necrosis is the death of shoots. First, the tips of the plants begin to dry out, then small spots appear on the leaves, growing into huge spots, and then sporangia - pink-orange dots - form on them. You can fight the fungus with fungicides. Regular inspection of plants and subsequent pruning of shoots with obvious signs of disease also provide effectiveness.

Creating favorable conditions for the development of plants, which consist of regular watering and timely fertilizing, will avoid boxwood diseases and help grow a beautiful “boxwood paradise.”

(lat. Buxus) - a genus of plants of the Boxwood family - slow-growing evergreen shrubs and trees, growing to a height of 2-12 m (occasionally 15 m). The Latin name of the genus comes from the Greek. buxe - dense - and indicates the exceptional density and hardness of the wood.

Boxwoods are very unpretentious plants: they grow on rocky screes, on the edges of forests, in bushes and dark deciduous forests. Very shade-tolerant, but also heat-loving. In nature they live on slightly acidic soils. Resistant to pests and diseases. All parts of the plant and especially the leaves are poisonous!

There are three large distribution areas of boxwood:

African - in forests and forest-steppes south of Equatorial Africa;
Central American - south of northern Mexico;
Euro-Asian - from the British Isles through Southern Europe, Asia Minor and Western Asia, Transcaucasia, China to Japan and Sumatra.

In Russia, on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, in gorges and river valleys in the second tier of broad-leaved forests, one species grows - Colchis Boxwood (Buxus colchica). The unique boxwood forest is located in the middle reaches of the Tsitsa River on the territory of the Tsitsinsky forestry district of the Kurdzhip forestry enterprise in the Republic of Adygea, and has the status of an area with a reserved protection regime. Its area is about 200 hectares. The habitat of boxwoods is constantly shrinking due to logging.

Boxwood is a coreless, mature wood species; in a freshly cut tree, the difference in color between sapwood and mature wood is almost imperceptible. Dried boxwood has a uniform matte color from light yellow to waxy color, which darkens little over time, and a uniform structure with narrow annual layers. The vessels are small, single, and not visible to the naked eye. The medullary rays are almost invisible in sections. The wood tastes a little bitter, there is no special smell. In terms of physical and mechanical properties, boxwood wood is close to hornbeam wood.

Boxwood wood is the hardest and densest of all found in Europe. Its density is from 830 kg/m³ (absolutely dry) to 1300 kg/m³ (freshly cut), and its hardness is from 58 N/mm² (radial) to 112 N/mm² (end).

Boxwood exceeds hornbeam in terms of strength: in compression along the fibers - about 74 MPa, in static bending - 115 MPa.

Solid, homogeneous, heavy boxwood is used for small carving work on wood, in the manufacture of small dishes, chess pieces, musical instruments, machine parts that required high wear resistance in combination with a perfectly smooth surface: printing machine rollers, bobbins and weaving shuttles, measuring instruments, parts of optical and surgical instruments. The twisted areas are used to make smoking pipes.

Boxwood sawn across the grain (end) is used in woodcuts (wood engravings). Boxwood is the best tree for woodblock printing, and this led to its almost complete destruction in the second half of the 19th century, when illustrations in newspapers around the world were cut on boxwood boards, sometimes the size of a newspaper spread.

In almost all countries of North America, Asia and Europe, the evergreen plant boxwood is widespread and very popular. This evergreen shrub is valued for its dense, beautiful crown, which is easy to shape. With the help of boxwood (buxus) lawns are framed, scenes, borders, and hedges are created.

Owners of personal plots widely use it as a decorative element of the garden, front garden or cottage. This is due to the fact that the shrub is frost-resistant, tolerates pruning well and is unpretentious in cultivation and care.

Description, types and photos of boxwood

Boxwood is an evergreen shrub whose height can be from 2 to 10 meters. It has become an indispensable element of interior design due to its decorative crown and slow growth. Over the course of a year, a bush can grow only 5-6 centimeters.

Boxwood is distinguished by its dark green, oval-shaped leaves. By rubbing them in your hand you can smell a fairly strong smell. Unisexual flowers of the plant are very small and inconspicuous in size. In October, fruits are formed from them, which are a round box. Small cracks appear on the grayish-yellow bark of boxwood with age.

Boxwood in nature there are more than 30 species, each of which has unique qualities and finds its application in landscape design.

In indoor conditions, evergreen boxwood can be grown like a bonsai. Ideal for this variety "Buxus harlandii Hance". The slow growth of the shrub and its small leaves allow you to create real miniature masterpieces.

To plant a bush, no special knowledge or skills are required. It is recommended to plant young plants in the autumn season. Bushes aged three years and older are replanted from early spring to late autumn.

When purchasing seedlings, it is best to choose the container option. Shoots and leaves should be green, the crown should be lush. Leaves with yellow spots they say that the plant is sick and will soon die.

Planting should be carried out on a cloudy day in holes prepared in advance, which should be twice the volume of the horse system. The bottom of the hole must be covered with turf soil, leaf humus and sand (2:4:1). You can add potassium fertilizer.

The seedling is placed in the hole very carefully. The roots are straightened, covered and compacted. A depression is formed around the trunk and the plant is shed. It is recommended to mulch the soil around the plantings with agrofibre or conifer bark.

So that the bushes grow strong and densely leafy, the soil for them should be:

well drained;
breathable;
loose;
nutritious;
with neutral acidity;
loamy.

Evergreen boxwood can grow in poor soils. Wherein the crown will be dense and dense, but its growth will noticeably slow down. Therefore, it is recommended to add compost and slaked lime to such soils.

It is best to temporarily bury buxus seedlings purchased in November in a leeward, shady place in the garden, sprinkled with light, permeable soil. In winter they will need to be covered with snow. The bushes are planted in a permanent location in April.

Properly planted plants take root within three weeks. After this, you can start trimming the bushes. This is necessary not only to obtain a beautiful shape, but also to increase root growth and good growth of green mass.

Features of caring for evergreen boxwood

Shrub care is quite simple, however has its own characteristics and nuances.

Caring for boxwood at home

Buxus is quite capricious as an indoor crop. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of it at home subject to some rules.

The place for the plant should be chosen in a bright place, but without direct sunlight. It is best to grow boxwood near western and eastern windows.
Watering should be regular. The plant is watered in small doses and sprayed from the aerator. It is necessary to ensure that water does not accumulate in the pan. This can lead to rotting of the root system.
In winter, the optimal temperature for buxus is 6-10C. To do this, a pot with a plant can be placed near a glazed balcony door, or placed between double frames. Watering in winter is reduced to a minimum.
Boxwood is replanted every 2-3 years. This should be done carefully. To avoid damaging the roots, remove the plant from the old pot with a lump of earth.
You can trim indoor bushes throughout the year.

Boxwoods propagate by cuttings, which are harvested from late June to mid-July. To do this, young shoots with three internodes that are lignified at the base are selected.

Cuttings with two upper leaves, cut into two internodes, are immersed in a mixture of peat and garden soil. Only leaves should remain on the surface. To create a greenhouse effect, the cuttings are covered with film or a glass jar. The container is placed in a warm, bright place, but not in direct sunlight. Watering should be frequent, but not abundant.

After about a week the cuttings will begin to take root and sprout. At this time, they will need to be seated in separate containers. Young plants are planted in open ground in the first days of September. They should have time to take root well before frost. For the winter, the seedlings are covered with covering material, since young boxwoods are afraid of frosts below -15C.

Diseases and pests of boxwood

Of great importance in caring for buxus is protecting it from pests and preventing diseases. With proper care there should be no problems, but the most common hazards should be studied.

Of the pests, boxwood can suffer from moth, leaf flea or gall midge.

The moth is a nocturnal moth that can affect large areas of green shrubs. Its caterpillars entangle shoots and leaves with cobwebs, causing drying out of parts of the plant or the entire bush. When foliage changes color, boxwood should be checked for the presence of moth caterpillars. Infected trees are treated with special preparations.
The leaf flea turns the leaves white and bends them. Affected leaves should be removed and the crown treated with mineral oil.
Gall midge appears as nodular swellings on the bottom of the leaf and yellow spots on the top. The leaves dry out and die. In this case, regular pruning and chemical treatment are required.

Among the most common diseases of boxwood are the fungus Cylindrocladium buxicola, which causes leaf loss, and the fungus Volutella buxi, which causes shoot necrosis. In both cases Pruning of infected branches is required and escapes. Fungicide treatment does not control diseases. But it can be used as a preventive measure.

In landscape design, buxus is very popular as a hedge, green scenes, framing ridges and flower beds. From its bushes you can make geometric shapes and all kinds of shapes.

Plants can be shaped into a pyramid, ball, cone or oval. With their help you can decorate front gardens, paths and flower beds.

High varieties of boxwood, which include “Rotandifolia” and “Latifolia”, used to form hedges. The Handorthiensis variety is distinguished by its unusual strength. It looks original and beautiful as a backdrop against which roses bloom.

It is better to plant buxus for hedges in the spring. For this purpose, holes are prepared, the distance between which should be 30-40 centimeters. The sprouts are removed from the container, placed in a prepared hole, covered with soil and watered.

Boxwood will look good in a flowerbed in combination with heuchera. By placing a bush with red leaves in the central part, you can plant boxwood along the edges. Against the background of its greenery, the heuchera will contrast and stand out.

If form a shape from boxwood or you yourself are unable to create the composition, you can always use the services of professionals, or buy a ready-made, original plant.

If you follow all the rules for planting and caring for boxwood, the plant will delight you with its beauty for many years. And the hedges, shapes and figures formed from it will decorate your garden plot to the envy of all your neighbors.

Plant.
These are slow-growing evergreen shrubs and trees, growing to a height of 2-12 m (occasionally 15 m).
The leaves are opposite, from elliptical to almost rounded, entire, leathery. The flowers are small, unisexual, in axillary inflorescences, fragrant. The fruit is a three-lobed capsule, which cracks when ripe and scatters black shiny seeds. All parts of the plant and especially the leaves are poisonous.
There are three large habitats: African - in forests and forest-steppes south of Equatorial Africa and Madagascar, Central American - in the tropics and subtropics south of northern Mexico and Cuba (25 endemic species); American species are the largest-leaved plants of the genus, often reaching the size of medium-sized trees (up to 20 m), Euro-Asian - from the British Isles through Southern Europe, Asia Minor and Western Asia, Transcaucasia, China to Japan and Sumatra. In Russia, on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, in gorges and river valleys in the second tier of broad-leaved forests, one species grows - Colchis Boxwood (Buxus colchica).

Wood.
Boxwood is a coreless mature wood species. This means that in a freshly cut tree the difference in color between sapwood and mature wood is almost imperceptible. Dried boxwood has a uniform matte color from light yellow to waxy, which darkens little over time, and a uniform structure with narrow annual layers. The vessels are small, single, and not visible to the naked eye. The medullary rays are almost invisible in sections. The wood tastes a little bitter, there is no special smell.
Solid, homogeneous, heavy boxwood is used for small carving work on wood, in the manufacture of small dishes, chess pieces, cue balls for playing novus, musical instruments, machine parts that required high wear resistance in combination with a perfectly smooth surface: printing machine rollers , bobbins and weaving shuttles, measuring instruments, parts of optical and surgical instruments. The twisted areas are used to make smoking pipes.
Boxwood sawn across the grain (end) is used in woodcuts (wood engravings). Boxwood is the best tree for woodblock printing, and this led to its almost complete destruction in the second half of the 19th century, when illustrations in newspapers around the world were cut on boxwood boards, sometimes the size of a newspaper spread. Sawn veneer was and is now being made from boxwood in small quantities, using special machines with a thin cut. In the 20th and 21st centuries, boxwood veneer is used only for inlays due to its high cost.