Boxwood belongs to the family of evergreens, growing up to 2-10 m in height. These shrubs and trees are distinguished by a dense small-leaved crown, very thermophilic and shade-tolerant. Other names for boxwood: buxus, axle box, iron tree. There are several dozen plant species that differ in size, shape and color of leaves. Shrub grows in the wild and in cultural conditions. There are also indoor views of it.
Habitat habitat: South America, Madagascar, Equatorial Africa, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, southern Europe. Boxwood is almost never found in the middle lane, as it does not tolerate severe frosts and winds. However, if desired and with proper care, it can be grown in the garden, on the outdoor terrace, on the balcony or in the room.
Description and properties
The bush grows very slowly, in the year its shoots rise to a maximum of 5 cm. The life span of individual specimens reaches more than 500 years - these are long-lived trees. Boxwood is undemanding to the composition of soils: it feels good on sandstones, podzolic, clay soils. It is not demanding on illumination - it can grow in such dark places that other representatives of the flora can not stand: in oak forests, dense forests and thickets.
The leaves of the axle, depending on the species, have a size of 0.5 to 4 cm, round or oval, dense and smooth leathery surface, located opposite. Their color varies from light, pale green to yellowish, blue or brown. The bark of the bush is pink or grayish-brown, in old plants - with small cracks. In spring, boxwood is covered with small flowers that do not have a pronounced smell; in the fall, trihedral seed bunches appear in their place.
All species are poisonous - contain potent alkoloids and volatile. Neither flowers, nor seeds, nor leaves should be sampled or given to animals.
Common species
Boxwood is a valuable relic plant, scientists believe that their age is several million years. In Russia, the only wild boxwood species found in the wild is Colchis species, which is listed in the Red Book. This shrub in the vicinity of Sochi and other southern regions forms small groves and protected park and forest zones.
One of the common and beautiful species of buxus is evergreen boxwood - buxus sempervirens. Its main difference: relative frost resistance. The plant is able to withstand temperatures up to -15 ° C. In the natural environment, the trunk of a shrub can stretch up to 10-15 m, the leaves are dark green, glossy, about 3 cm in diameter. Evergreen boxwood is used as an ornamental plant: hedges, borders, landscaping of gardens, alleys and squares. Due to the lush and dense foliage, the ability to maintain their shape for a long time, the bushes can serve as the starting material for creating various artistic elements, a picturesque landscape. If desired, you can cut geometric or complex shapes, animals, fairy-tale characters from them (pictured).
It is similar in appearance to evergreen small-leaved boxwood (Buxus microphilla). It differs in the size of the leaves, in this shrub they do not exceed 1.5 cm, which increases the decorative value of the plant. In Catholic parishioners boxwood twigs are used as material for festive green wreaths for Easter.
A little larger foliage in boxwood Bulgarian - reaches 5 cm, and the trees themselves can grow up to 6-8 m.
Species of miniature size Buxus harlandii Hance are often grown indoors in pots. It is quite unpretentious in care, does not require frequent watering and top dressing.
In ancient times, the leaves and shoots of boxwood were used by healers for the manufacture of medicines for malaria and rheumatism. Currently, medicine has no evidence of the medicinal properties of the plant, because of the strong toxic qualities it is not used either in pharmacology or in cosmetology. Sometimes homeopathic remedies for joint treatment are produced from boxwood extracts.
Wood
Boxwood is not in vain called iron. Its wood does not contain a core, has a uniform smooth structure and an even light yellow hue, which upon drying becomes waxy, resembling amber. Over time, the surface does not darken, maintaining a fresh, noble appearance. Boxwood density is one of the highest. For a completely dry tree, it is almost 830 kg / m³, for a fresh tree - about 1300 kg / m³. The strength of the material is higher than that of oak or hornbeam.
Buchus wood is one of the rarest species, it is durable and is used as ornamental material for cutting souvenir chess, figurines, wooden parts of musical, medical instruments, machine tools, and expensive smoking pipes. Sheets of boxwood veneer are used to create wooden prints.
Reproduction and care
Planting and caring for boxwood do not require complex professional skills. The main conditions for successful growth: loose, well-drained soil, heat, moderate watering. Sprout a bush from seeds for a very long time, the rest period in them is several months. Faster get a new copy of the cuttings. To do this, select and cut lignified shoots about 40 cm long with several internodes and leaflets in an adult plant. This should be done in July or August, as seedlings need to take root before the cold weather.
The shoots are placed over most of the length in a moistened mixture of garden soil with peat, so that only the green part remains outside. It is advisable to provide greenhouse conditions - to cover the plants with a film.
After 2-3 weeks, the seedlings will have their own roots, and they can be planted in permanent places. It is advisable to do this in cloudy weather. Direct sunlight is contraindicated for them, for planting it is required to choose shaded places near the trees or to create such conditions artificially. Young boxwoods are very afraid of frosts, so for the winter their roots need to be warmed with mulch: with a mixture of leaves, sawdust or needles, and cover the bushes with a cloth.
For planting, you need to choose varieties resistant to cold, otherwise there is a risk of rapid death of the plant.
Potassium-phosphorus and nitrogenous mixtures are introduced as fertilizer to the buchusa. It is optimal to acquire special nutrition for evergreens.
Watering the bushes in the open ground must be done several times a season, on average 1 time per month. With frequent rains, additional humidification is not required.
Shear shrubs are usually 1 time in 2-3 months with garden scissors, giving the necessary shape. After pruning, it is recommended to fertilize and water the plants in order to compensate for the lost nutrients. If you want to grow a complex figure from a bush, its contours are marked with wire, and boxwood stems are attached to it.
Caring for indoor plants is a bit troublesome. Bonsai, like shrubs growing in open areas, do not like the bright sun, so the pots are set on the north or west side. The soil must have neutral acidity and be sufficiently loose and breathable. Waterboxes are watered regularly, but little by little so that water does not protrude into the pan. Periodically, the plant can be additionally sprayed from the spray gun or substitute the crown under the scattered jets, washing off the dust.
In the winter months, Bonsai needs to arrange rest: put him in a cool, shaded place with a temperature of about + 10 ° C, he does not need watering at this time.
Florists consider indoor boxwood to be capricious - if the rules of care are violated, the tree may begin to discard the foliage or stop growing.
Pest control
Insect parasites cause harm to boxwood: leaf flea, scale insects, gall midges. Lesions can be seen by the changed foliage: yellow or brown spots, swellings appear on it. Among the pests, a moth butterfly was noted. Its caterpillars braid leaves with thin threads, similar to spider webs, damaging vast areas of the bush. Sometimes, the buxus is the victim of a fungus that causes leaves to fall.
As a protective measure against pests, boxwood is trimmed, removing infected leaves. For prevention, it is periodically recommended to treat it with insecticides and fungicides.
If you are lucky with the variety, at home or in the garden you can grow an evergreen beauty that will be a source of pride and will delight for many years.