Alternative to Box

Hi all,

with box blight and now the dreaded box leaf caterpillar rampaging all across the the UK

plus the cost £ of sprays etc throughout the year to try and control both what alternatives can you suggest going forward.

As usual all ideas suggestions appreciated. If you can explain your choice that would be really helpful


Spruce

 

My thought would be for

Lonicera Bagessens gold ? I think would be able to keep small and well clipped and I don’t think it has any major health problems or pests

 

Most of the Lonicera nitida varieties would work as mentioned above.

Another is Pittosporum Golf Ball.
I have 12 lining my drive.
Evergreen with attractive foliage and grows to the size of a 1m ball.
Mine got to that size in about 4 years.
P. Tom Thumb is a red leaved variety.

 

Lonicera grows like the clappers, its faster than laurel in my from garden.

I'm sure I heard a mention of a holly Ilex crenata.

 

What about Sarcococca? It can be pruned down to the size you want and will still flower with lovely fragrant flowers in the winter/spring.

 

For a low hedge, you can't beat Teucium x lucidris or Hebe topiara. And of course Hidcote lavender.


There are Hebe varieties which grow into small domes naturally, not unlike balls of box. Hebe "emerald mound" is a striking shade of green.

In a container, boring old Aucuba japonica "Roxannie" makes a large ball, it's indestructible and I think (but I may be the only one!) it's attractive.

I'm not keen on Lonicera nitida, which the nursaries are pushing as a box substitute. I don't like the somber shade of green, the plastic-y leaves or the stiff form.

 

The plain green small-leaved evergreen Euonymus are sometimes recommended. Varieties like Jan Hughes or Green Spire. I haven't grown them though.

I do have a two short sections of Lonicera "Baggesen's Gold" kept as dwarf hedges (about 8" high) ad it works but they do need frequent clipping to keep them looking tidy. They tend to get "fuzzy" looking quickly and then put out occasional long shoots.

 

I have a low hedge of Euonymus Green Spire. The leaves are slightly larger than box and a shiny bright green, nicer than my box hedge and no cobwebs or leaf drop to concern me .

 

Do you know about the 'Thinking outside the box' garden at RHS Wisley? It's full of species they've been trialling as box alternatives. There's a post about it here:
Thinking outside the box
It had lots of Pittosporum (as in the above blog post), but the very cold snap in December 2022 led them to remove them and try other things.
I took these photos on Sunday (there are a few labels in the photos).

 

Hi

very useful, did you have a preference for any

 

I second that @pete, I've got three but not sure I'll be keeping them all.

 

I must admit I liked the smaller-leaved Pittosporum best, and would risk them myself as I live in London. The Corokia look amazing, but it's quite a different appearance to box so it's a matter of personal preference.
I don't personally have box to replace, but I think the closest in appearance are the Loniceras (but take a lot of trimming). I have Euonymus 'Green Rocket' which is a very resilient plant, and I noticed recently that Kew seem to be using clipped Euonymus 'Green Spire' for some low hedges - it looks good.

 

I’ve seen E.Green Spire in a few places recently as a box replacement. I can’t decide if I like it or not. I believe it will knit together once mature but all the hedges I’ve seen seem more like rows of plants rather than a continuous line. Attractive but not the effect that Box gives and relies on been able to plant densely so lots of plants needed. Although it needs more clipping, Lonicera and yew are probably the ones that, to my eyes, gives a Box-like result.

I think I will have a complete change when/if we loose ours. I say if as so far (crossed fingers, touching wood, all other superstitious actions) after our initial attack of box moth the subsequent damage has been minimal. No doubt at will get back from holiday on Friday to find them stripped bare…..

 

Ilex Crenata, while looking very Box-like, grows at a glacial pace, so making a substantial hedge would take a while.

Personally, I love Lonicera BG. Looks great all yr, fully clothed in leaves from ground level. I grow a couple as freestanding shrubs, but they make a great hedge too and are easy to clip. No pests or diseases (currently ), though if it is adopted widely as a Box alternative, I guess it is possible some enterprising species will take advantage and adapt to eat/colonise it.

 

Mine is getting close to the knitting stage @Butterfly6 and I've decided that I like it! I like it a lot more now after my neighbour a couple of houses away knocked on my door this week to inform me that she had box moth and was going to dig up all her box. Her neighbour opposite has just planted a new box hedge . I think E. Green Spire might be in short supply here soon. I'll be offering cuttings to the highest bidder .