Fungus Resistant Boxwoods

Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. Boxwood blight is a highly contagious fungal disease that is wiping out whole plantings of this beautiful evergreen which is the backbone of many gardens. If you have a maintenance crew helping in your yard, they can introduce the infectious spores from their shoes and clothing – and if they prune through their tools. There are some boxwood species/cultivars with some tolerance. If you search N C State Extension Boxwood Resistance you can find a ranking of the boxwoods that are in the trade. Another listing of resistant boxwoods with photographs and descriptions is available through Bartlett Tree Company’s website. And at Clemson H G I C Boxwood Diseases, you can find information on this disease and how in some cases frequent applications of certain fungicides and instructions their use which sometimes can help protect plants from infection.