This boxwood is a dense, rounded broadleaf evergreen shrub known for its tolerance to pruning, making it great plant for hedges and topiary. It has small, oval, deep green foliage which turns yellow or brownish (bronze) in winter. The tiny fragrant flowers are often visited by bees.
Cultivated in Asia since the 1400s, littleleaf boxwood is no longer found in the wild and is today considered of a manmade garden origin. Very adapted to heat and humidity, it grows best in partial sun and well-drained soils and benefits from mulching to keep its roots cool and moist. Full sun and dry soil is a combination that degrades this plant. Cold drying winter wins along with sun can scald and kill boxwoods in colder regions. (info source: Learn2Grow.com)
Genus - Buxus
Species - Microphylla Sinica
Common name - Chinese Boxwood
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 4 - 9
Height - 2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
Spread - 3'-5' / 0.9m - 1.5m
Plant type - Small Shrub
Vegetation type - Evergreen ornamental
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Shade
Growth rate - Slow
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral
Soil type - Loam, sand, well drained
Water requirements - Average Water
Landscape uses - Container, Edging, Foundation, Hedges, Rock Garden / Wall, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Germination rate - 80%
Leaf / Flower color - Dark Green / --
Useful Info | |
Germination | Seeds are quite easy to germinate. Moist, chilling period will increase germination rate and speed. This treatment is called stratification. Here are the steps to stratify the seeds: 1. Place the rough side of a square of sandpaper rough side up. Put six or seven seeds onto the sandpaper square. Place another square of sandpaper, rough side down, over the top of the seeds. Rub the two squares of sandpaper back and forth approximately five times. Scratching the boxwood seeds is necessary for germination. It is called scarifying. 2. Soak overnight in warm water. 3. Place the seeds in a moist material such as milled sphagnum peat, sterile soil or vermiculite. Fully drain away all of the water and place the seeds in a zip-lock bag. Place the seeds in the fridge, watch out - the seeds can’t dry out or be waterlogged otherwise the pre-treatment will be ineffective. 4. Refrigerate the seeds for 2-3 months at 33 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit (+2 – +4C). 5. After the seeds are stratified, plant them a 1/16” deep in a container filled with a moist, well-drained germination medium. Tamp the soil. Cover with glass or plastic and keep the container moist, but not soggy. Seeds should germinate at room temperature. As soon as the seeds germinate, place them under bright lights or move them to a greenhouse or cold frame. Another method is to plant seeds outdoors in well prepared beds in October or before the winter. If it does not rain, then water the seedbeds before the ground freezes. The seeds will naturally receive cold treatment during the winter. The seeds should start to germinate when the seedbed warms up in the spring. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant out in late spring. |