The Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub can be a lovely, environmental plant addition to any and all homes with a suitable environment. Although this shrub is largely common, it does have a few more particular requirements that you may not have been aware of. So, here is everything you need to know about the Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub and how to care for it.
| Botanical Name | Buxus microphylla |
| Common Name | Boxwood ‘Wintergreen’ |
| Plant Type | Annual |
| Flower Color | Small yellow flowers |
| Size When Mature | 24 to 48 inches in height
36 to 60 inches in width |
| Bloom Time | Mid-spring, usually in April |
| Sun Requirements | Prefers full sun exposure but can tolerate partial shade |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 4 to 9 |
| Soil PH Range | Neutral |
| Soil Type | Moist, sandy or loamy |
| Water Needs | Medium |
| Native Area | China, Japan and Korea |
What you Need to Know About Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub
The Winter Boxwood Shrub is an evergreen plant that’s commonly known for being a particularly versatile type of shrub .
It grows at a slower pace and is quite tolerant to cold weather. Moreover, the Winter Boxwood Shrub is thought to have originated from Asia but it is a common yard staple in places all over the world.
In addition to this, this shrub produces miniscule yellow flowers. Although these flowers may not seem very important or particularly nice to the eye, it’s their scent that sets them apart. They have a resinous scent that many might find displeasing or unpleasant. Quite a few people have claimed that it makes their Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub possess the smell of cat urine.
How to Care for Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub
Here’s everything you need to know about growing and caring for a thriving Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub:
Light
Wintergreen Boxwood Shrubs require at least four hours of direct sunlight a day in order to properly flourish. This plant tends to prefer full sun exposure but it is perfectly capable of tolerating partial shade.
Water and Soil Needs
The Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub will grow well in most soils as long as they are not constantly wet. It prefers neutral soil that’s well drained, somewhat moist and sandy or loamy in texture.
In addition to this, Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub require one inch of water a week until the shrub itself begins to grow. Once the plant is established one deep watering per week should keep it nice and healthy. If you are experiencing a drought or a particularly humid period of time this number should be upped to two or possibly even three times a week.
Temperature Requirements
The Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub is great at resisting extremely cold weather. It is actually one of the most winter hardy shrubs. The ideal USDA Hardiness Zones for this plant lie anywhere in between zone 4 and 9.
Fertilizer
Even though the Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub does not require a lot of fertilizing you should still do soil tests in order to figure out what fertilizer your plant needs. Most of the time Wintergreen Boxwood Shrubs do well with fertilizer mixes such as 10-10-10 or 10-6-4.
In addition to this, the best time to fertilize your Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub is either in the late fall or in the early spring.
Common Diseases
The Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub, like other boxwoods, could be affected by a few different diseases. Some of these include:
- Root rot – makes roots rot and leaves significantly lighten in color
- Boxwood blight – can crack the wood foundation of your plant and turn its leaves a spotty brown color
- Decline – makes leaves turn yellow and drop off, can sometimes cause branches to die in seemingly random patterns
Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub Propagation
Propagating Wintergreen Boxwood Shrubs is an easy but time consuming task. The recommended time in which you should propagate this plant falls anywhere between late summer and early to mid fall.
To begin the propagation of this plant, pick out a sturdy and healthy cutting from a good branch that you are sure is free of any and all pests and diseases. It is preferable that your cuttings are four to six inches in length. Once you have your cuttings, place them into pre-prepared containers and set them into your pot mixture.
When propagating, it is a good idea that you place your cuttings in a warm environment that is not facing any direct sunlight exposure.
Final thoughts
Overall, Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub is a great and pretty easy to take care for plant. This plant is likely to maintain its radiance and beauty for a long time if all of the above requirements and recommendations are taken into consideration.