It happened again this year – the dreaded box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis, is back and its caterpillars are chewing their way through my box topiary.
After a moment of despair I have pulled myself together – but it’s a bore isn’t it – the constant threat of blight, which has even forced Monty Don to rip up his box edging, and now, the munching monsters. What to do? You could just be patient and accepting or you could ditch this tricky bush for something more robust. Here are some new contenders:
Top of the list is Ilex Crenata, commonly known as Japanese Holly – the variety above is ‘Helleri’. It is evergreen, small-leaved and tough with a very similar habit. Can you spot the difference between this and buxus? Actually the image is of ilex crenata in its four seasons. It is a great alternative to our native box, is evergreen, clips really well and is not prone to blight or insect damage at the moment. It has been used for centuries in Japan to create Niwaki or cloud pruned trees.
You can use in almost exactly the same way as buxus – in globes,
crisp, smart hedging,
and as an edging plant for parterre designs.
Another big contender to beat box in the ring these days is euonymus japonicus ‘Jean Hugues’
It has a lot of people excited but I am not so sure – the leaves as seen above are not quite that of box and the way it grows doesn’t seem to me to lend itself to a first class topiary subject.
It is difficult to find any convincing images on a search engine – maybe because it is too new – but the example above makes my point; it’s a little bit scruffy. One person’s scruffy is another persons charmingly informal. If that’s the look you prefer try this:
the naturally domed growth and pretty foliage of Pittosporum Tenuifolium ‘Golf Ball’ is a delight – and pretty low maintenance too.
or there is hebe ‘green mound’ – a real delight,
or hebe rakaiensis for large billowing pillows of green.
In fact there are several good alternatives for box which, if you are planting anew, are certainly worth considering.
But my heart will always belong to box .
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