Instead of boxwood

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/06/2015 (3824 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One of the great disappointments in this designer’s life is boxwood.

I love it! I want it! My little geometric vegetable patch has been crying out for a crisply manicured boxwood hedge since the moment of its arrival. I hear the plea, but I’m not going there. Boxwood, although it can be purchased here in hardcore hardiness zone 3 land, does not thrive. Better nothing than an apologetic gaping-hole-disappointment.

Yet I am always on the lookout. My criteria? Must be hardy, must be low-growing, must lend itself to being trimmed into a crisp sharp edge.

Boxwood is an evergreen and that is certainly part the reason it is the go-to shrub for formal and informal hedges, geometric herb or vegetable gardens, knot gardens, topiaries, parterres… Not only does it withstand rigorous pruning into smart edges and trim curves, it looks great all winter.

Our go-to evergreen shrub is cedar, and in additional to the tall pyramidal and large globes, there are some lovely smaller ones. Little Giant, Hertz Midget, and Danica Cedar (0.8 metre round to 0.3 metre round respectively) are good choices for a low hedge. Choose one kind, and plant them close together, about a third of their mature width. These are slow-growing, so restraint and patience are essential for achieving a manicured look. Restrict trimming to the current year’s new growth. Left to their own whims though, these cedars create a dense edge that is simultaneously grounded at the base and frolicking at the top. Lovely! And if the look appeals, nice bonus to be able to skip the trimming.

For straightforward manicuring, best to go with something deciduous. Alpine currant and Globe Caragana lend themselves to a firm hand. These dense small-leafed shrubs do sheared-green like no other in our area. Want to bump up the interest with some flowers? Dwarf Korean Lilac withstands shearing, and if done immediately after it flowers, will provide a multi-coloured hedge during the spring. Manicured hedges of all of these shrubs have a great winter look.

They don’t have that year round green, but with their dense intense branching patterns exposed, they offer fascinating sculptural opportunities for snow to play with throughout the winter.

Something completely different? Ideal for a protected area in full sun, Rose Glow Barberry. When well-established, it will tolerate a rigorous shearing. It is, as the name implies, barbed. So why bother? It’s burgundy! What better than boxwood could there be?

Carla Keast has a master’s degree in landscape architecture and is a Winnipeg-based freelance landscape designer. She can be reached at contact@carlakeast.com.