“Boxwood blight has been spreading like crazy, forcing so many of us to rip out infected boxwoods (Buxus) and search for alternative shrubs. But here's the good news — we don't have to give up on…”
Callicarpa nigra
Blight-Resistant Boxwood Varieties to Consider for the Garden
Boxwood blight has been spreading like crazy, forcing so many of us to rip out infected boxwoods (Buxus) and search for alternative shrubs. But here's the good news — we don't have to give up on boxwoods entirely! Plant breeders have been hard at work creating varieties that can stand up to the blight.
The NewGen Boxwood series (USDA Zones 5b–8) has shown really solid resistance to both boxwood blight and a pesky insect called the boxwood leafminer. This series includes several cultivars:
- NewGen Independence (Buxus‘SB 108’) is a midsize, rounded shrub that can substitute for older boxwoods like 'Green Beauty' or 'Green Velvet'.
- NewGen Freedom (B.‘SB 300’) is hardy through Zone 5a, with a narrower habit that makes it a stand-in for 'Green Mountain' or 'Jim Stauffer'.
- The newest release, with limited availability as of yet (2024), is called NewGen Liberty Belle (B. sinicavar.insularis'RLH-BI'). Remaining under two feet tall, it's perfect as a small specimen or for planting along a foundation or border.
Also making its way to the US market is the Better Boxwood collection (Zones 5–9). These were actually bred in Europe, where boxwood blight first reared its ugly head back in the early '90s. This disease-resistant series includes four varieties in different heights and habits, so there's something for pretty much any landscape role:
- With the potential to reach eight feet tall, Skylight (B. 'HER2009B03') can serve as a punctuation point or screening.
- The one- to two-foot-tall Renaissance (B.'HER200B01') makes an ideal stepover hedge or container plant.
- Mid-height Babylon Beauty (B. 'HER2010B04') and Heritage (B. 'HER2010B02') serve as good evergreen accents, with the former supplying a spreading habit and the latter, a traditional upright silhouette.
One thing to keep in mind — even resistant plants can still catch blight if they're under serious stress, so give them the right growing conditions. Boxwoods love full to part sun, and they really appreciate some afternoon shade. Wet soil is a big no-no, so make sure you plant in a well-drained spot. Water regularly for the first year or two while they're getting settled in. Once they're established, they can handle dry spells and mild drought like champs.
Images courtesy of NewGen Boxwood and Better Boxwood.
