When you cut boxwood, you can propagate it too

Common boxwood or Buxus sempervirens is a shrub naturally found in Asia, North Africa, Southern and Central Europe and from Himalayas to the Caucasus. In Europe, people usually grow it as an ornamental plant, mainly because it can grow practically anywhere and deals with pruning well.

It may grow to a height of 3 m and it appears very compact and maintains a solid spherical shape even without maintenance. It has rigid, elliptical and shiny dark green leaves. They feel leathery on touch. Leaves grow very densely and are firmly attached to twigs. Thanks to this people dry twigs with leaves and use them in dry flower arrangements. The only little drawback is that they give off kind of unpleasant smell when cut.

Boxwood propagates easily

Gardening manuals will tell you to take mature shoots in August, but in fact you can take them at any time – for example, during a spring pruning done to maintain shape. Even last year’s shoots will take root quite easily. Make sure the bottom of the cut is firm and does not bend if you press lightly on it. Then remove the bottom half of leaves.

Photo: Pixabay

Soak the end of the cutting in a suitable root stimulant. If the cuttings are really young, remove the last few undeveloped leaves to prevent loss of the much-needed moisture. Finally, plant them in a suitable substrate deep enough – all the way to the first pair of leaves.

Where and how to grow boxwood

Find a partially shaded spot with moist soil. Prepare the soil by mixing common gardening substrate with sand or, even better with deacidified peat and sand mixed in 1:1 ratio. Do not forget regular watering. After just a few weeks, they should take roots. During the first winter the plants need protection so you may put them in a cold greenhouse, or at least protect them with twigs . In general, it is recommended to grow small boxwood plants in a flower pot for the first two years and then transplant them outside. This way the root system will strengthen and your plans will grow faster.

Preview photo: Pixabay