Plant of the Week: Gem Box® or Strongbox®

Sadly, boxwood blight is working its way across the United States. Last March, Nursery Management magazine wrote an informative article about the disease with a determination that it has been positively identified in over 25 states. Just this month the blight fungus had been positively identified on boxwoods at an Indiana store owned by a national home and garden chain. While the chain has pulled the plants from the shelves of all its stores, they cannot guarantee some have not already made it to homeowner gardens.

Maybe its time to start looking for a boxwood alternative? Well, you're in luck. Jane has some good options for you in her Plant of the Week - enjoy!

Boxwood alternatives: Gem Box® or Strongbox®?

Gem Box® Ilex glabra

We know that boxwood is facing some challenges due to the spread of boxwood blight, so we wanted to offer another option for a small, shear-able evergreen.

Gem Box® Ilex glabra delivers, and then some. 
I. glabra (inkberry holly) is native to North America which makes it appealing to people who are trying to work more with native species. Its dark-green foliage develops attractive red tips during the spring flush. Gem Box has tight compact branching that continues to the ground so the plant doesn't look bare-legged like older varieties can.

Strongbox® Ilex glabra

Strongbox® Ilex glabra does pretty much what Gem Box does, but has larger leaves. Some of you may prefer one, some the other, and maybe you'll decide to grow both! 

Both varieties will grow 2-3' tall and wide and grow in full sun to partial shade. They are hardy to USDA Zone 5 and will adapt to many types of soil, with the exception of alkaline soil.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles.

Note from Natalie - if you live in zone 7 or warmer, also consider Juke Box® Pyracomeles. It's a ProvenWinners® ColorChoice® exclusive with shiny, dark green leaves and a full, round habit. It's thornless, and unlike inkberry holly, it doesn't flower. It's also a little more petite than the inkberry holly. This is a  brand new evergreen variety that will be available to consumers this spring - ask for it at your local garden center.

Until next week! - Natalie