Managing Pests in Gardens: Trees and Shrubs: Boxwood

Pests in Gardens and Landscapes

Boxwood, Box—Buxus spp.

Plant Identification

Boxwood or Box plants are evergreen shrubs or small trees. They are commonly used for clipped hedging and border plantings. When left unclipped, shrubs tend to form soft billowy mounds.

Optimum conditions for growth

Buxus spp. are generally hardy plants and can adapt to several climatic zones. They can survive in full sun or shade and perform best with adequate summer irrigation.

Leaves of box plant

Pests and disorders of *Buxus* spp.
Invertebrates Armored scales California red scale Greedy scale Oleander scale Oystershell scale Boxwood leafminer Cottony cushion scale Mealybugs Ground mealybug Psyllids Boxwood psyllid Root knot nematodes Spider mites Boxwood mite Whiteflies Giant whitefly	Diseases Collar, root, and crown rots Leaf spot diseases Macrophoma candollei Phyllosticta sp. Pseudonectria canker (Volutella canker and blight) Wood decay Environmental disorders Frost Mineral deficiencies Nutrient and mineral excesses Poor water management Sunscald Weeds Vertebrates

Boxwood hedge

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How to Manage Pests

Pests in Gardens and Landscapes

Boxwood, Box—Buxus spp.

Plant Identification

Optimum conditions for growth

Invertebrates

Diseases

Environmental disorders

Weeds

Vertebrates