Fall is for Planting...Boxwood!

By Holly Scoggins and J. Bennett Saunders

The cooler, wetter months of autumn are an ideal time for planting woody ornamentals and herbaceous perennials, especially boxwood (Buxus species and cultivars). Let’s review some cultivar selection tips and best practices for design, planting, and aftercare. 

Boxwood, historically the aristocrat of shrubs, remains a popular choice for more formal landscapes. Though substitutes are touted, nothing tops the lush evergreen foliage, shape-ability, and that irreplaceable quality of deer-resistance of boxwood.  

The quiet sophistication of boxwood in a formal garden is unmatched, and best management practices will help keep them healthy and beautiful. (photo courtesy of Tom Belden, John Richmond Landscaping, Inc.)

Boxwood do have a few important pests and pathogens. Regarding pests, boxwood leafminer (Monarthropalpus flavus) is an issue across much of the United States. Box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) has made its way to North America. Boxwood blight Calonectria pseudonaviculata is taking its toll on boxwood in eastern North America as well the West Coast. The fungal disease thrives with mild temperatures (60°-77°F) and wet conditions and can survive for years in infected plant debris. However, there are several keys to optimizing boxwood health in the landscape and reducing the chance of boxwood diseases and pests —cultivar selection, attentiveness to mature size/spacing and site selection.

Which Boxwood?

Success starts with plant selection. No boxwood variety can claim complete resistance to both boxwood blight and boxwood leafminer, but research trials and field experience with more than 130 varieties reveal some common-sense selections.  To cross off the list: Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ (European or English Boxwood) - a “plant of the past” that is highly susceptible to boxwood blight - many good alternatives exist.  Buxus sempervirens (American Boxwood) cultivars vary in their landscape performance and degree of blight and leafminer resistance. However, Buxus microphylla varieties topped resistance rating and are thus a good choice for blight-prone areas that also experience leafminer.  The cold-hardy Buxus sinica var. insularis  hybrids such as ‘Green Velvet’ show some resistance to boxwood blight but susceptibility to boxwood leafminer. A terrific source of cultivar-specific information is the beloved “Boxwood Guide” published by Saunders Brothers Inc. and now in its 6th edition - PDF available for free - download at https://www.saundersbrothers.com/page/Boxwood-Guide

All cultivars listed below exhibit reasonable resistance to both boxwood blight and boxwood leafminer. 

·      Low hedges and other edging purposes call for dwarf cultivars, such as B. microphylla ‘Little Missy’ and B.sinica var. insularis ‘Nana’. Always confirm mature size of a cultivar.

·      For classic green orbs as specimens or foundation plants in the 3-to-5-foot range, consider NewGen Freedom® (Buxus ‘SB 300’ PP324421) or NewGen Independence®  (Buxus ‘SB 108’ PP28888),  both of B. microphylla heritage. Buxus microphylla var. japonica ‘Green Beauty’ is also a durable choice but may require leafminer management. When a gold variegated form is desired, B. microphylla Golden Dream (‘Peergold’PP16052) shows reasonable resistance to both issues. 

·      Upright boxwood are irreplaceable for vertical interest. Though a bit more susceptible to blight in trials, B.sempervirens cultivars ‘Dee Runk’ and ‘Fastigiata’ remain popular. When used for vertical interest, proper spacing and placing them in a location with good airflow can help mitigate boxwood blight.

Boxwood plays well with others! Orbs of boxwood NewGen Independence® and a hedge of ‘Little Missy’ compliment the sparkling summer blooms of Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Munchkin’). (Photo courtesy of Paul Westervelt, Saunders Brothers Inc.) 

Site Selection, Spacing, and Installation

When considering placement, note sun tolerance varies by cultivar. Afternoon shade is optimal.  Another siting consideration—high and dry(ish) if possible. Boxwood appreciate well-drained soil and will struggle with wet feet. Good drainage minimizes the chance for Phytophthora and other root zone diseases. 

As with any other landscape ornamentals, confirm cultivar-specific mature size when spacing to ensure long-term satisfaction with the project. What will the garden look like in 10 to 20 years?  

For a border or other row-type application, clipped hedges are perpetually popular, but consider the “pearl necklace” approach as well—generous spacing allows for air movement, a key to reducing the potential for blight. If utilizing boxwood for a foundation planting, ensure sufficient spacing away from the structure and place well away from downspouts to maximize air circulation and minimize potential for a wet rootzone.

When installing, pay particular attention to best planting practices. Planting the top of the root ball approximately 2 inches above ground level, a bit higher than the soil line, helps ensure proper drainage. 

Boxwood blight research has demonstrated that a light layer of mulch (one inch the first year, one-half inch per year thereafter) will reduce splashing of precipitation that might carry spores—boxwood blight spreads easily via mechanical/water movement. Overhead or other spray irrigation is discouraged for the same reason; drip irrigation is preferred. If hand-watering is required, direct your client to water the soil, not the foliage. Immediately after transplanting, water thoroughly again and continue to monitor moisture for 18 months or so, until the plant is established. Once severely drought-stressed, boxwood seldom recovers completely. 

Here’s an example of proper selection and spacing for optimal air movement with Buxus microphylla var. japonica ‘Jim Stauffer’. The light layer of mulch prevents water splash and lessens potential for the spread of boxwood blight.  (Photo courtesy of J. Bennett Saunders, Saunders Genetics, LLC). 

Transplant Tips

If a client has a beloved (and healthy) specimen boxwood that requires relocation, fall is the best time for transplant efforts. Some landscapers have success transplanting during mild winters, particularly in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7-9. Proper timing will allow for maximum root growth when moisture is typically more abundant. This in turn better prepares the plant for dry summers. 

Increase chances of success by adequately watering the plant prior to any digging. The root ball should be dug as wide as the canopy of the plant (at a minimum). The root ball size will vary but a rule of thumb should be for every one foot in width, the depth should be six inches. Since boxwood have shallow roots, greater focus should be on root ball width than depth. 

As with any transplant project, do not leave the boxwood above ground for a long period, especially in times of extreme heat or cold. Never allow the root ball to dry out. Never move boxwood during the stress of summer heat or severe drought.

Sourcing Plant Material

To conclude, here are a few final thoughts on sourcing. Departments of Agriculture for many states maintain a boxwood blight cleanliness program along with a compliance agreement for nurseries. These agreements describe comprehensive best management practices to be followed. Source boxwood material from nurseries listed! These nursery growers uphold the highest standards of sanitation and best practices to keep boxwood blight out of the supply chain.  

For in-depth resources and tips on boxwood care for both homeowners and landscape professionals, visit www.newgenboxwood.com.

A similar version of this article by Holly and Bennett appeared in the digital newsletter of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, August 2021. https://issuu.com/designonline/docs/apld_design_online_august_2021

NewGen® - Growing for the Future - Trialing

Part 2 - Trialing, Trialing, and More Trialing

by Holly Scoggins, Program Manager, NewGen® Boxwood

In Part 1, we shared how NewGen® is working with talented breeders to bring more varieties to market. But before becoming part of our boxwood brand, any selection of interest goes through a very long haul of trialing for good resistance to boxwood blight (Calonectria pseudonaviculata), boxwood leafminer (Monarthropalpus flavus, a serious issue in the Mid-Atlantic), and to get a good look at mature habit and performance to ensure the WOW factor. But wait, there’s more! A multi-year biosecurity gauntlet provides clean material for propagation and production. 

As described in Part 1 - we’ve got some really promising selections in the pipeline from our breeders.  So what happens next?

The boxwood blight trials field is designed to put the highest blight pressure on potential selections.

In a blight-infested field, far, far away from Saunders Brothers Inc. (seriously, like, three hours away),  selections of interest are planted out in replicated trials.  In this environment, we are actually encouraging  blight, so overhead irrigation is needed. Beginning in early August, misters run every evening between 7:00 p.m. and 11 p.m.,  when temperatures are in the 60 to 70 degree range.  This environment is perfect for blight infection and spread.  Boxwood blight data is taken several times through the early fall as the blight gets worse, including level of defoliation and percentage of leaves infected. Promising resistance results gains a selection another year in blight-land, before it is judged worthy of moving forward. 

All along the way, size, habit, and landscape performance are taken into consideration and must be superior to other varieties. Dubbed the “WOW factor” by patriarch Paul Saunders, Bennett and the rest of the Saunders family of boxwood experts won’t introduce anything they wouldn’t showcase in their own gardens - perhaps the toughest hurdle for any selection!

As boxwood leafminer was an issue prior to boxwood blight - and remains as such - multi-season trials for resistance to this troublesome pest occurs simultaneously. Selections are planted into decades-old, unsprayed test beds away from the main nursery,  guaranteeing  loads of leafminer.  Leafminer resistance plays a large role in whether or not a plant moves forward. 

Another factor in the timeline? Biosecurity concerns for container and field production at Saunders Brothers Inc. With zero tolerance for boxwood blight and strict visitor policies, SBI remains blight-free. To help keep it that way, any promising new selection emerging from the previous trials goes through a multi-year, multi-location process to make it into production and onto the NewGen® roster. 

Once a selection is judged to fit the NewGen® model of pest and pathogen resistance plus the WOW factor, cuttings are taken, sanitized, and rooted as it starts the journey from Level 4 (the trials area known to have blight) to a clean hoophouse located miles away from the nursery (Level 3).  With overhead irrigation and no sprays, if blight was present it would manifest here.  In the quarantine areas, containers of Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ are scattered throughout as the highly-susceptible “canary in the coal mine”  If two summers in quarantine yields zero blight, the selection is moved into high-security NewGen® greenhouses (Level 2) but must remain there for an additional year before moving into commercial production (Level 1). This four-level system ensures the highest security and confidence of cleanliness for both SBI products and as the selection is propagated. 

Taking into consideration that boxwood are slow growers to start with, this process is not for the impatient. A seedling selection is looking at a 6- to 10-year stint in the NewGen® and Saunders Brothers pipeline before deemed ready for prime time!

NewGen® - Growing for the Future - Breeding and Selection

Part 1 - Boxwood Breeding and Selection

by Bennett Saunders, General Manager, Saunders Genetics, LLC

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.  The second-best time is now.”  Anonymous. 

This famous saying applies to breeding boxwood as well. In this two-part series, we’ll reveal current breeding and selection efforts and the trialing protocols - a slow yet rewarding process of discovery! 

We are excited about our two current NewGen® Boxwood cultivars, but we’re not resting on our laurels.  We have more work to do!

There have been minimal changes in the boxwood lineup since the Sheridan cultivars ‘Green Velvet’, ‘Green Mountain’, ‘Green Mound’, and ‘Green Gem’ were introduced in large numbers to the industry in the 1980’s.  Those cultivars certainly filled a need for better cold hardiness in the Midwest, but their widespread adoption into the mid-Atlantic states revealed substantial boxwood leafminer susceptibility.

With an excellent understanding of the strengths and weakness of just about all current boxwood varieties, NewGen® has an extensive breeding program with two breeders doing the initial crosses. In addition to insect and disease resistance and the all-important WOW factor, breeding goals of both programs include the creation of an entire spectrum of boxwood growth habit and foliage - large and small, upright to prostrate, blue-green to green to variegated.  

·      Dr. Keith Yoder, a retired professor of Plant Pathology from Virginia Tech, is focusing on boxwood varieties that are suited for USDA Cold Hardiness Zones 6 through 8, with an emphasis on resistance to diseases and insects that are prevalent in this area. Thousands of his seedlings are already on the path to evaluation.

One of the benefits of having decades-old boxwood comparison trials onsite at Saunders Brothers Inc. is the wealth of germplasm for Dr. Yoder to work with.

·      Meanwhile Mike Yanny, a longtime plant breeder from Wisconsin, is collaborating with NewGen® to find boxwood with not only insect and disease resistance, but also reliable cold hardiness for USDA Zones 4 and 5.  As some of his initial work was done in the 1980’s, this program should yield results quickly. We already have mature mother plants from his program which give us good indications of the overall size, shape, and WOW factor of a particular hybrid. Very exciting!

Bennett and Antonio care for some NewGen® prospects from Mike Yanny’s breeding program.

 As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day.  Boxwood breeding is a long game.  It is difficult to be certain of the physical attributes of a boxwood until the plant is at least 6-8 years old.  Other attributes may take even longer to evaluate.  Many hybrids will be 10 years old before they make the short list.  But there is so much promising material in the pipeline!

Join us for Part 2 of Growing for the Future in our August issue:

Trialing, Trialing, and more Trialing 

Greetings from Holly Scoggins, NewGen® Boxwood Program Manager

Hello, growers, retailers, landscape professionals, and general fans of NewGen® Boxwood! 

Allow me to introduce myself in my new role as Program Manager for NewGen®. My efforts will be devoted to the administration of the expanding NewGen®Boxwood program with responsibilities for marketing, licensee management, industry education and outreach, and content creation and communication across various channels. 

Holly Scoggins, Program Manager, NewGen® Boxwood

How did Ilex come to Buxus?
My horticulture career spans more than 25+ years. With a bachelor’s in Ag Economics from the University of Georgia, I came around to Horticulture a bit later in life, scoring a second major in Horticulture and then on to a master’s degree (fun fact: I served as a graduate teaching assistant for both Dr. Armitage and Dr. Dirr and lived to tell about it).  After completing a Ph.D. in Horticultural Science from North Carolina State University, the faculty role at Virginia Tech was a great fit.  My twenty-year career focused on teaching (propagation, production, landscape plants and more) as well as research, and cooperative extension responsibilities. I also served as Director for the Hahn Horticulture Garden from 2002-2014, assisting with expansion of our campus garden. Another green industry passion is perennials - I’ve been a part of the Perennial Plant Association for years and will take office as President in October of this year.

I retired with emeritus honors (campus parking pass for life!) at the end of 2019. The next phase of my work life took shape as director, then vice president of Educational Programs for AmericanHort. I enjoyed working with the talented staff plus terrific industry and academic speakers to design and execute green industry educational programs. My time with AmericanHort also increased my awareness of issues facing boxwood, as the Horticultural Research Institute has led the way in organizing and funding significant efforts in boxwood research and outreach. Saunders Brothers, Inc. and now Saunders Genetics LLC, has been at the forefront of trialing for boxwood blight resistance among cultivars and developing best management practices for this keystone landscape plant. 

Most of you know that Bennett Saunders’ knowledge of and passion for Buxus is second to none.  To walk through boxwood trials with him (abiding by strict boxwood blight protocols, of course) is so inspiring.  His tremendous curiosity and intense optimism for the future of boxwood is what drives NewGen®.   The breeding program, manned by Keith Yoder and Mike Yanny, is making great headway – as seedlings are trialed for resistance to boxwood blight, boxwood leafminer, enhanced cold hardiness, an array of growth habits, etc.  But Bennett is absolutely insistent on the “WOW factor” – it’s got be a gorgeous plant that will shine in the landscape. 

Bennett Saunders monitors a NewGen® trial bed

One of the most fulfilling parts of my faculty career was not only teaching, but helping place ambitious students with terrific green industry employers. Thus, my connections to the Saunders businesses and family run deep through Virginia Tech.  At least six current employees including a few of the Saunders 3rd generation were past students. The nursery was a favorite stop on spring field trips organized for my ornamental plant production and marketing course. 

Long story short: how could I pass up this opportunity to be part of such a wonderful team? 

As a lifelong-learner, I believe it’s never too late to start something good.  I look forward to contributing my knowledge and skills in assisting program partners as we grow the NewGen® brand. 

At press time, the summer shows are “go” – so NewGen® will be there with bells on! Can’t wait to see you at Cultivate’21 and the FarWest Show. We’re also planning a fall field day – more info coming soon!

I work remotely from a small farm in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, with frequent visits to the mothership in Piney River.   I’m here to assist you in every way possible. Do not hesitate to contact me at hollys@newgenboxwood.comor call 434-277-5455 x38.  

Spring Into Sales at Point of Purchase

Spring is coming! Garden retailers are gearing up for the rush as gardeners come back to the store for new and replacement plants for their yards. Garden center staff will be stretched to the limit to give attention to customers who have questions or need help. To help out, NewGen® Boxwood offers a full range of point-of-purchase support that lends a selling hand when staff is busy and customers want information to help the buying decisions. 

NewGen® Boxwood’s Silent Sales Partners

The heart of this support is the upscale plant packaging for NewGen Independence® and NewGen Freedom®. Delivered at the peak of retail-readiness, all NewGen® plants come in distinctive branded containers and labeled with large picture tags containing all the information gardeners need for purchase and care. 

NewGen® Boxwood’s distinctive branded packaging

Attention-getting signage has been proven to enhance sales. NewGen® has a full complement of 2’x3’ consumer-oriented signs designed to attract customers to NewGen® displays. New to our sign series this year is a stunning presentation of NewGen Independence® planted at the White House Rose Garden as part of the major renovation completed in 2020.

2x3 POP sign featuring NewGen Independence®- boxwood of choice for the White House Rose Garden renovation in 2020

Bringing the customer to the NewGen® display is just one step in silent selling. Handy standard-size 11x7 bench card designs are available as well with key information and space for in-store pricing and store logo.

Standard-size 11x7 Bench Cards available for NewGen Freedom® and NewGen Independence® with locations for custom pricing and retailer logo

Last but not least, NewGen® 8.5x11 handouts on NewGen Independence® and NewGen Freedom® are offered with complete information to give customers details on growth habit and care. 

Informative handouts for the retail shopper

For added-value, our 2x3 signs and bench cards have design options for co-branding with the garden center’s logo to give them the retailer’s stamp of approval. 

All of our retail selling tools are free and available for easy download and local printing on the NewGen® website under the About menu at Marketing Resources- https://www.newgenboxwood.com/marketing-resources

And don’t forget about all the content and resource available at newgenboxwood.com that goes beyond our sales tools. A wealth of information on all-things boxwood.

We’re looking forward to another fantastic year of sales for NewGen® Boxwood for our retail customers. We’re to help. Happy Spring!

Restoring Gardens Affected with Boxwood Blight

One of the most common questions gardeners and landscapers face after having dealt with a Boxwood Blight infection is if it is safe to re-plant boxwood? Because there are many factors to consider, it can be a tricky question to answer with certainty. Luckily NewGen® had the opportunity to partner with a research team from Virginia Tech on a project to determine how more resistant boxwood cultivars may perform at a recently infested landscape site after diseased plants and debris have been removed.

Blighted boxwood shrubs, January 2019.

The property where the experiment is currently taking place is a 30-year-old residential garden located outside of Richmond, Virginia. This garden had over 400 well-established boxwood, mostly American (Buxus sempervirens) and English (Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’). Some boxwood were surrounded by perennials and ground covers such as Pachysandra, another known host for Boxwood Blight. The garden borders a native forest with large trees, leading to deer and other wildlife regularly moving throughout the property. 

The connection between the homeowner and the researchers at Virginia Tech began in late 2015 after the homeowner came back from vacation in August to find some of her boxwood infected with Boxwood Blight. After speaking with an Extension agent to confirm the disease, the agent connected her with Dr. Chuan Hong, Professor of Plant Pathology at Hampton Roads Agricultural Research Center.

Dr. Hong and his team have since performed a series of research projects to better understand Boxwood Blight. Of the most practical were mulching trials. Those trials were essential to extending the benefits of mulch for Boxwood Blight mitigation.

Gated garden where the trial took place. Dark black spots are location where previously infected boxwood existed and have since been removed and the ground flamed to reduce soil inoculum.

In early 2019, Dr. Hong began a new research project focusing on restoring the boxwood garden with more resistant cultivars as a major component, along with several other innovations. Bennett Saunders, Dr. Hong, and others evaluated the site in early March of 2019 to make plans for the “New Garden” project which would take place in a gated section where all large boxwood shrubs were destroyed.

Bennett Saunders, Dr. Hong and the research team evaluating the site in March of 2019.

A truck load of NewGen Independence® ready to be planted in May of 2019.

Later that month Dr. Hong and his team began the clean-up step. This included removal and burning of aboveground parts of the plants, followed by flaming fallen leaves and debris with propane torches and then digging and removing all stumps. In May of that same year, the garden was replanted with NewGen Independence® along four sides of the central square, and NewGen Freedom® along the fence. Immediately after replanting, soil surface underneath and surrounding each NewGen boxwood was mulched to prevent the Boxwood Blight pathogen moving from the soil onto plant foliage by water splash. A weather station, plus two soil moisture probes, were also installed to gather on-site environmental data to determine whether preventative fungicide sprays were needed. When needed, every other Independence boxwood was sprayed preventatively, while the other boxwood were left as nontreated control plants.

Layout of New Garden trial.

Although the experiment is still on-going, early results have been very promising! As of September 2020, all the plants have been through the better part of two Boxwood Blight seasons and are showing no symptoms of Boxwood Blight regardless of fungicide protection. All plants are evaluated regularly, and fungicides are only sprayed when weather conditions are very conducive to the disease.

NewGen Independence® showing no symptoms of Boxwood Blight a year and a half after being planted.

NewGen® believes that the future of boxwood combines best management practices and more resistant boxwood cultivars. Early results of this trial confirm that message! The future of boxwood is bright, and this beloved shrub will continue to grace landscapes and gardens for generations to come.

A clean NewGen Freedom® continues to perform in the landscape, showing no signs of Boxwood Blight.

Partner Highlights: Sheridan Nurseries

Celebrating over 100 years in business, Sheridan Nurseries is a premier grower in eastern North America. Located in Ontario, Canada, they provide trees, shrubs, and perennials to central, eastern, north eastern, and northern Canada, as well as, the central United States. Sheridan Nurseries spreads out over 900 acres of land, 54 acres of prop, and 260 acres of container growing area where they produce over 600 perennial varieties and more than 600 hardy nursery stock varieties.

Early beginnings of Sheridan Nursery. Photo Credit: Sheridan Nursery

It all began in the early 1900s when two British architects settled in Ontario. Disappointed in the lack of locally grown ornamental plants, they purchased 100 acres of land near the village of Sheridan. They then recruited Swedish born Herman Stensson and his family to help establish the nursery in the spring of 1914. Over the next decade they doubled in size spanning 250 acres of tree, shrub, evergreen, rose, and perennial production.

Spread out over 900 acres, Sheridan Nursery grows a wide variety of shrubs and perennials. Photo Credit: Sheridan Nursery

Sheridan Nurseries began bringing in new plants starting with the first Boxwood into Ontario from Korea and the first Japanese Yew seed from Japan in the 1920’s. After WWII they continued an extensive program of plant selection and made many plant introductions to the industry, including Green Gem, Green Mountain and Green Velvet Boxwood, Ivory Silk Lilac Tree, Mountbatten Juniper, Glenleven Linden and DeGroot’s Spire Cedar to name a few.

They continue this spirit of innovation as partners with Saunders Genetics, bringing the NewGen® Boxwood program to the industry.  They have been crucial in trialing and evaluating NewGen Freedom® and NewGen Independence® boxwood in their growing environment. For more information about their story or to view their availability, check out their website: www.SheridanNurseries.com. You can learn more about NewGen® growers on the Professional Grower Info page on the NewGen® website.

Partner Highlight: Overdevest Nurseries

An aerial view of Overdevest Nurseries.

Overdevest Nurseries has been a premier plant grower in the northeastern United States for nearly 70 years.  Family-owned and operated, the nursery grows more than 2,000 varieties of shrubs, trees, vines, and perennials on nearly 300 acres of land.  They provide exceptional plant material to independent garden centers and distributors within a 300-mile radius of their farm in Bridgeton, New Jersey.

John and Jean Overdevest and their young family.

John and Jean Overdevest left war-torn Holland in 1952, settling in southern New Jersey and establishing a fledgling nursery specializing in the field production of azaleas, rhododendrons, dogwoods and Japanese maples.  Their son Ed came back to the nursery in 1975 after completing his education at Cornell University in New York.  Through the 1980s and 1990s, the farm continued to expand through dedication to sustainability and the installation of water recovery basins for recycling irrigation run-off,  eventually moving into container plant production.

Ed Overdevest returning to the farm after graduating from Cornell in 1975.

The next generation, Ed and Gail Overdevest and their family.

What began as the dream of two immigrants quickly grew into a prosperous nursery operation through hard work and determination.  Now in their third generation, Overdevest Nurseries’ commitment to quality and sustainability grows stronger each year.

Overdevest Nurseries has partnered with Saunders Genetics to bring the NewGen® brand to life.  They have been crucial in trialing and evaluating NewGen Freedom® and NewGen Independence® boxwood in their growing environment.

Part of the Overdevest Nurseries team at IGC in 2015.

For more information on Overdevest Nurseries or to view their plant availability, go to their website at www.overdevestnurseries.com.  You can learn more about NewGen® growers on the Professional Grower Info page on the NewGen® website.

Partner Highlights: Prides Corner Farms

The hillside at Prides Corner Farms - Photo credit: Prides Corner Farms

Prides Corner Farms, a family owned nursery in Lebanon Connecticut, has spent the past several decades establishing itself as a premier grower in the Northeastern United States. Their incredible product diversity and their exceptional customer service has positioned them as an industry leader. With a company goal of not only providing exceptional products, but being a business partner to their customers, they help their customers grow and become more profitable.

Mark Sellew circa 1990 - Photo credit: Prides Corner Farms

From humble beginnings in 1979, Peter Sellew began Prides Corner Farms on 50 acres of land with a handful of greenhouses. His son Mark Sellew joined the business shortly after in 1980, fresh from his graduation from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Mark brought back with him big dreams of becoming a major grower in the Northeast. Over the next decade they worked towards this goal, creating a team with the experience and knowledge to take them over the million-dollar mark.

Peter and Mark envisioned a company that did not just sell plants but positioned themselves as a business partner for their customers, working together to find solutions to the problems they faced. Mark assumed complete ownership in the late 1980s and continued to pursue that goal. Through the 1990s and 2000s, Prides Corner became an industry leader, providing diverse product selection, innovative marketing and branding, and state of the art logistics to deliver these outstanding products to their customers.

Today the Prides Corner team continues to pursue innovation and success in their goal to be the best partner for their customers.

American Beauties in the Native Plants garden in the Arboretum - Photo credit: Prides Corner Farms

Plants on display at Pride’s Arboretum - Photo credit: Prides Corner Farms

Prides Corner Farms has been an essential partner, working with Saunders Genetics to trial and evaluate NewGen Freedom® and NewGen Independence® at their nursery and in their trial gardens. They have been a crucial part of establishing this program and introducing these problem-solving plants to the industry. To learn more about NewGen™ growers or if you have interest in becoming one, check out the Partners page. For more information about Prides Corner or to find out their availability of NewGen™, check out their website.

Jan. 2020: Saunders Genetics Announces European Partner

Bennett Saunders (left) and Peter Kroes (right) at MANTS 2020.

Saunders Genetics, LLC of North America and Dutch company van Vliet New Plants B.V. have agreed to a joint venture that begins a process that will lead to the eventual sale of Saunders Genetics’ patented NewGen™ Boxwood in the European consumer market. Bennett Saunders, General Manager, Saunders Genetics, and Peter Kroes, co-owner of van Vliet New Plants have taken the initial step of supplying plant material to select European growers for trialing over the next 12-18 months. Anticipated results of the plant trials will open the door for licensed growers to produce and distribute NewGen™ to European consumer gardeners.

Saunders Genetics introduced the NewGen™ Boxwood brand to the North American market in 2019 to much fanfare due its improved genetics that demonstrated greater tolerance of Boxwood Blight, higher resistance to Boxwood Leafminer, and WOW factor in the garden and landscape. At this time, 22 North American licensees have signed on to grow the first two plant introductions, NewGen Independence® and NewGen Freedom®. European growers are seeing the potential of NewGen™ Boxwood as a means to combat the devastation of blight that began in Europe and migrated to North America in 2011. Saunders Genetics was created not only to combat Boxwood Blight, but as a boxwood solution taking into account many years of trials and research on boxwood insects, diseases, and cultural factors.

van Vliet New Plants has been chosen as Saunders Genetics’ European connection for the introduction and management of NewGen™ in the Euro trade and consumer marketplace. The trialing process and building of production leading to consumer sales is expected to take 2-3 years. van Vliet New Plants with its global network is a recognized and proven leader in the protection, control, marketing, and management of new plant varieties.

“We believe NewGen™ Boxwood from Saunders Genetics has tremendous potential for the European market,” said Peter Kroes, co-owner at van Vliet New Plants. “The bar has been raised in the effort to find solutions to Boxwood Blight and we’re excited to be at the forefront in bringing this new generation of plant material to our audiences. Beyond blight, our association with Saunders Genetics’ long-range goal of elevating boxwood across a range of attributes and performance signals a bright future for this foundational plant.”

“We’re very pleased to be working with Peter and van Vliet New Plants in exploring the opportunities of the European market,” said Bennett Saunders, general manager of Saunders Genetics and co-owner

Partner Highlights: Willoway Nurseries

Willoway Nurseries, a third generation, family owned business is one of the largest wholesale growers in the Midwest and ranks in the top 40 growers nationwide. Located outside of Cleveland, and just south of Lake Erie, they provide quality plants to the Midwest and across the US.

From humble beginnings, Les Demaline at age 18, became the sole proprietor of Willoway Nursery in 1954. Named after a row of willow trees that grew along his parent’s house, the nursery began with Les growing propagated geraniums, taxus, and other evergreens plants in hot-bed houses.

Through the years the nursery has grown substantially, expanding to multiple farms, covering approximately 550 acres of field production and 450 acres of container plants, including 32 acres of climate-controlled greenhouses. Willoway has a diverse inventory with over 2,000 varieties of quality trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, and tropical plants, and participates in many of the biggest national brands.

Willoway Nurseries has been essential in working with Saunders Genetics to trial NewGen Freedom® and NewGen Independence® at their nursery. Last year we joined WIlloway in their booth at Cultivate to announce our first two plant selections. You can read more about their nursery here.

Our partners are an essential part of who we are, we are excited to work with Willoway and several other growers to launch this problem-solving line of boxwood. To learn more about our partners, or if you have interest in becoming a partner, check out the partners page on the website.

Jan. 2020: The Start of the New Year

As the decade comes to a close, we set our sights to the future and the opportunities presented in the new year.   Last month we looked at the official launch of the NewGen™ brand in 2019. Now as we enter 2020, we share the plans we have and how we hope to expand and connect with the industry.

Events:

Trade events and shows provide a place for many members across the industry to connect with one another and showcase the newest and most exciting products. There are many shows all over the world that cater to their region, and we are excited to participate in a few of them. The winter show season begins with one of the biggest industry events in Baltimore, MD. The Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) will be held next week at the Baltimore convention center starting Wednesday Jan 8th until Friday Jan 10th. This show brings in a whole spectrum of industry members from the Mid-Atlantic and around the US. Last year we officially launched the NewGen™ brand at the show. We are excited to participate again, come visit us at booth 174! You can also look for NewGen™ at our partners booths around the show.

NewGen™ on display at Saunders Brothers Nursery’s booth 424.

After MANTS we will head to North Carolina to participate in NCNLA’s Green & Growin’ show in Greensboro. The show will be Thursday and Friday, Jan 30th -Feb 1st. Come visit us at booth is 529 we, look forward to seeing you there!

NewGen™ on display at Cultivate ‘19

Later in the year we will participate at the AmericanHort event, Cultivate in Columbus, OH. The show is in July and includes educational events along with a trade show. We are excited to participate in other regional shows as the schedule allows and will update you all as we add them to the calendar.

Educational Events:

Bennett Saunders giving a presentation at the First Annual NewGen™ Field Day.

One of our major goals with NewGen™ is to provide up-to-date research and information to the industry about Boxwood and Boxwood related issues. Part of that includes participating in events where we can share this knowledge with the industry and the public. Our team is excited to give presentations at events such as the SNA conference in Baltimore, MD, and the Boxwood Health Conference in Aurora, OR. We are also excited to sponsor and promote other events such as the American Boxwood Society’s event: The Third International Summit on Boxwood Challenges. Events like these bring in researchers from all over to share the most up to date information on boxwood challenges.

Plant Availability:

Starting this year, NewGen™ Boxwood will officially be available for sale from our five partner growers. Our partners include: Overdevest Nurseries in NJ, Prides Corner Farms in CT, Saunders Brothers Nursery in VA, Sheridan Nurseries in Ontario, and Willoway Nurseries in OH. Make sure to check out their websites and contact their sales teams to see when their plants will be on availability.  We are excited to see over 75,000 plants available to growers, landscapers, and retailers this year!

Other ways to stay connected:

As the year progresses, we are excited to continue to develop our digital presence through our website, social media, and other platforms. Continuing to connect with the industry remains a priority as we share the message of NewGen™ Boxwood. We will continue to utilize our website and newsletters to share information and research about boxwood as well as any news about the program.

With an exciting year behind us and an ambitious year ahead of us, we are looking forward to 2020 and the start of a new decade. Happy New Year from all of us at NewGen™

Dec. 2019: Looking Back at the First Year of NewGen™

December marks the end of a productive year and encourages reflection as we look back at 2019. This year marked the official launch of the NewGen™ Boxwood brand and the unveiling of its first two introductions, NewGen Freedom® and NewGen Independence®. These plants will become officially available spring of 2020, from our 5 partner growers, Overdevest Nursery in NJ, Prides Corner Farms in CT, Saunders Brothers, Inc. in VA, Sheridan Nursery in Ontario, and Willoway Nursery in OH. With the expectation of a promising future, lets recap on how we got to where we are.

Winter:

We started off the year with our first official announcement of the NewGen™ brand at the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) in Baltimore, MD. With over 10,000 participants at the show, this was a great opportunity to connect with fellow industry members and share what we have been working on. Over 70 years in the making, it was exciting to finally share our answer to many issues facing boxwood in today’s world. Our team connected with other growers and worked to recruit licensees to expand the brand to reach consumers all over the US and Canada. After MANTS we headed to Greensboro, NC for the Green & Growin’ show to connect with more growers and share our story.  

Winter was also a busy season as we launched our official website to share our message and bring the industry the most up to date information on boxwood. Our goal is to grow this website into a tool that can be utilized by all seeking information on boxwood cultivar care, research, history, and other topics of interest.  

Spring:

Spring is always a busy time of year in the green industry and that rang true for NewGen™ as well. Building from the excitement of the winter trade shows, NewGen™ and Saunders Brothers, Inc. were featured in several industry-focused media channels. The research Saunders Brothers has done on Boxwood Blight and Boxwood Leafminer (that lead to the creation of the brand), picked up attention from publications like Nursery Management, Grower Talks, Greenhouse Grower, and even Garden & Gun magazine.

March marked the beginning of our monthly e-newsletter, that allows us to share with consumers news about NewGen™, share tips on care, and the latest reports on boxwood research.

Spring also gave us the chance to further relationships made at the trade shows and industry events, encouraging many growers to join the NewGen™ network. We are grateful to be working with wonderful, like-minded growers in the U.S. and Canada to provide NewGen™ Boxwood to consumers everywhere.

Summer:

Things started heating up this summer with the official unveiling of the first two selections of the NewGen™ brand. At the Cultivate event in Columbus, OH, NewGen Independence® and NewGen Freedom® made their debut and received the Retail Choice award from the Garden Center Group. These two introductions mark the culmination of years of testing and trialing, and we are proud to have been chosen out of 70 participants. Selected for their disease tolerance, pest resistance, WOW factor in the landscape, and grower friendliness, these plants truly provide solutions for many of the struggles gardeners face today.  

In addition to introducing the first two NewGen™ selections, we produced a video that shares our story of where we began, how we got here, and what our hopes are for the future. So much of what we do is rooted in our story and we want to share that message with both growers and consumers. The passion to understand the problems faced by boxwood years ago unwittingly sparked the creation of the problem-solving plants we have today.

Fall:

Temperatures cooled, leaves began to change colors, and the dust from the exciting year began to settle. We took this opportunity to open our doors and invite both network and partner growers to Virginia to share more about the NewGen™ program. In October, Saunders Brothers welcomed growers from all over the US to participate in the first annual NewGen™ Field Day, providing an opportunity to build relationships, share ideas, and learn more about boxwood production.

We reflect on 2019 and are grateful to all of those that have made it such a successful year. We thank our partner growers for working with us as we launched our brand. We appreciate the grower network that has joined us to produce this exceptional line of plants. We are especially thankful for the years of dedication to boxwood research that Saunders Brothers has pursued, culminating in the creation of Saunders Genetics and the NewGen™ brand.

With a successful first year behind us, we focus our sights on 2020., when NewGen™ will officially be available to be planted in gardens and landscapes everywhere. Boxwood have faced many setbacks in the past decade, but NewGen™ is here to show you that growers everywhere can succeed with boxwood. The boxwood revolution has officially begun!

Oct. 2019: First Annual NewGen™ Field Day

NewGen™ Boxwood on display at Saunders Brothers Nursery.

Gift bags for Field Day attendees.

Piney River, VA – On an unseasonably warm October day, NewGen™ welcomed many of our new licensees to Saunders Brother’s Nursery for our first annual NewGen™ Boxwood Field Day. Joining the NewGen™ and Saunders Brothers team were 12 attendees from 9 different nurseries, along with several researchers and industry professionals.

The day was jam packed with a combination of technical talks on the latest boxwood research, tours of both field and container production, information talks about the NewGen™ program, and lots of fun. The Field Day provided an opportunity for licensees to connect with one another, and for us at NewGen™ and Saunders Brothers to learn more about the team we are working with to launch the brand.

Robert Saunders giving a technical talk on the Phytosanitary practices used at Saunders Brothers Nursery.

Licensees learned effective methods of producing the plants while getting to see them in a traditional production set-up. Most attendees will be receiving liners this fall or next spring, with the expectation of selling finished material the following year. The Field Day gave visitors a chance to get a sneak preview of what’s to come in the NewGen™ program.  

Bennett Saunders enjoying a tour of the container nursery.

A Saunders Brothers taking attendees on a tour through the field nursery.

Several of the technical talks highlighted Best Management Practices regarding growing cleaner boxwood. Dr. Chuan Hong from Virginia Tech spoke on his latest research projects on boxwood blight, including his exciting findings for using mulch as a preventative against this pernicious disease. Robert Saunders discussed the phytosanitary practices put into affect at Saunders Brothers Nursery, which are aimed at producing cleaner boxwood. Other talks included more details about the program and how we plan to share our story with the industry.

A beautiful evening for a BBQ.

Saunders Brothers employees Amy and Adrienne enjoying the evening.

Paul and Tatum Saunders with employee Margarito enjoying the dinner festivities.

We capped off the night enjoying delicious local BBQ, bluegrass music, and fantastic mountain views at the home of Bennett and Lynn Saunders. The Field Day offered an exciting opportunity to network and learn more about the essential group of nurseries, joining our partner growers to launch the NewGen™ brand.

A beautiful sunset to finish off a fulfilling day.

Plants will be for sale starting in 2020. Check out our ‘Partners’ page for more details on where you can find NewGen™ plants. We will continue to update this page as more licensees have plants for sale.

NewGen™ sample plants on display during presentations.

What it Means to Have Wow Factor

A stunning display of boxwood hedges at the Chateau de Villandry in France.

People have always been drawn to nature for inexplicable reasons, creating gardens and landscapes filled with beautiful plants. Ornamental horticulture, as an industry, has prospered and grown through the centuries by cultivating beauty. Plants are bred and selected because they possess qualities that make them desirable. It could be because of the taste of the fruit, the shape or structure, or due to being pest and disease resistant but, arguably the most common trait growers, breeders, and gardeners are looking for is allure.

Paul Saunders evaluating boxwood for the National Boxwood Trials.

During the National Boxwood Trials, researchers evaluated boxwood on two major categories; impulse cosmetics and grower friendliness. Impulse cosmetics describes the immediate reaction a person has while walking by a specific variety of plant, either in a landscape or on the shelf at a garden center. Although the reaction could be either positive or negative, Paul Saunders, the initiator of the Trials, describes this initial reaction the “WOW factor.” He describes WOW as, “the factor that adds character and impact in a garden.” Even as gardeners have moved more towards plants that solve problems with pest resistance or tolerance to adverse conditions, the WOW factor remains an absolutely essential aspect for the success of any plant.

This was an important consideration as we made the selections of NewGen Independence® and NewGen Freedom®. Both plants outperformed other generic boxwood as solution plants for pests and diseases, but not at the expense of attractiveness. With these plants, the beauty lies in the rich, shiny, deep green foliage that maintains its veneer twelve months of the year. The full, fluffy shape of the plants pulls in any passerby, encouraging them to interact with the plants.

Boxwood of different shapes and sizes on display.

NewGen Independence® has a more elegant style, sought after for more formal garden settings. The deep green foliage stands out as a specimen or serves to accentuate brightly colored flowers around it. The strong branches give it a rounded habit that withstands even heavy snow loads providing grace in the garden through every season.

Example of the rounded habit of NewGen Independence®.

Rich, dark, shiny foliage of NewGen Independence®.

NewGen Independence® accentuating purple Verbena.

NewGen Freedom® stands out because of its its shiny green foliage and uniform habit. In a landscape it appears fluffy, inviting you to touch and connect with it, without sacrificing its structure.

Shiny green foliage of NewGen Freedom®.

An example of the vertical structure of NewGen Freedom®.

NewGen Freedon® with its fluffy, inviting shape lining this front walkway.

Though boxwood may lack some of the more flamboyant characteristics that catch the eye of onlookers such as bright flowers or colorful foliage, they have a timeless elegance, accentuating any landscape. Boxwood are known for providing structure and being malleable to fit a specific need. NewGen Independence® and NewGen Freedom® provide that and more. These plants were chosen not only as the problem solvers they are, but for their timeless beauty, lasting in the landscape for generations to come.

Boxwood gardens at the Chateau de Villandry.

An impressive boxwood maze in a formal garden in France.

Introducing NewGen Freedom® and NewGen Independence®

Behind every new venture lies the inspiration that initiated it all. The spark that led to the creation of NewGen™ lies with the two boxwood that will be the initial introductions of the line. After years of research, these two cultivars outperformed the more common varieties available on the market. These selections offer the industry a solution to the disease and pest problems boxwood continue to face. Being introduced to the market in 2020 are NewGen Independence® and NewGen Freedom®. With names that evoke imagery tracing back to 18th century, colonial America, where a new country was blazing a trail in history, these plants will lead the industry demonstrating better tolerance of Boxwood Blight, resistance to Boxwood Leafminer, and WOW factor in the landscape.

The first selection, NewGen Independence® (Buxus NewGen Independence® ‘SB108’ PP# 28888) will catch your eye with its deep green color that holds through the winter. Filling out to a nice rounded, medium-sized shrub, this variety can be used in formal plantings or to provide structure in less formal gardens. NewGen Independence® fills a need in the industry as a replacement for English Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’). English boxwood is known as being one of the cultivars most susceptible to Boxwood Blight, so much so that many producers can no longer risk growing them. This new variety will offer gardeners and landscapers a solution by achieving the same look but with a plant that has shown high tolerance of Boxwood Blight.

As a chance seedling found near Williamsburg, Virginia, NewGen Independence® thrives in zones 5b to 8 and will be a gardener’s dream whether it is a specimen on its own, used in a medium hedge, or as a foundation plant. Once planted and established, with minimal annual care, this plant will be a timeless addition to any landscape. For more details about this wonderful plant, check out the link below:

NewGen Freedom® (Buxus NewGen Freedom® ‘SB300’) is the second of the two introductions but will capture just as much attention. As a more vigorous grower, this rounded cultivar is slightly taller than it is wide and has beautiful glossy foliage, making it an excellent choice for both formal and residential landscapes. This plant was chosen not only for its demonstrated tolerance of pests and diseases, but its overall vigor creates beautiful structure in a garden much quicker than many other varieties available. Hardy in zones 5-8, this particularly grower friendly plant makes an excellent specimen, hedge, or foundation plant in landscapes all over. For information and photos, follow the link below:

Both plants were selected because they outperformed the rest through years of research. These new cultivars surpass current varieties available in the industry with their better tolerance of Boxwood Blight, strong resistance to Boxwood Leafminer, and overall beauty in the landscape. These plants offer solutions to the most prevalent boxwood pests and diseases today. The NewGen™ brand aims to lead the charge with this new generation of boxwood and continues to be dedicated to future innovations.

Who is NewGen™?

Easily one of the most recognized garden plants, boxwood (Buxus sp.) have been gracing formal gardens for thousands of years and are considered one of the oldest ornamental plants. As slow-growing evergreen shrubs, these plants have always been a symbol of a gardener’s commitment and investment to a green space. Boxwood have held their reputation for many years because they are low maintenance, provide structure to a garden, and have few pests and disease pressures.Unfortunately, this reputation took a hard hit in 2011 with the introduction of Boxwood Blight in the U.S. and many growers became concerned about the beloved plant.

Saunders Brothers in Piney River, VA, a family-run nursery with a rich history of boxwood production, responded to this threat by investing in research to find a solution. Their experience in trials for resistance to Boxwood Leafminer, helped them to work with researchers and universities to begin testing for varietal tolerance of Boxwood Blight. After testing over 150 varieties, it was clear certain varieties excelled. Saunders Brothers was excited to have found solutions to a potentially devastating disease. They felt they needed to share these genetics with the industry. This sparked the creation of NewGen™ Boxwood.

NewGen™ aims to be the standard bearer of a distinctively better family of boxwood. This new generation of plants promises better tolerance of Boxwood Blight, better resistance to Boxwood Leafminer, and a WOW factor in the landscape.

“To meet the threat of rising pest and disease pressures, as well as maintain boxwood as the foundation of the landscape, we felt we needed a new approach,” says Bennett Saunders, General Manager of Saunders Genetics. “We’ve focused our attention on new and improved genetics, more thorough testing methods and protocols, partnering with like-minded growers, and establishing a distinguished brand identity. We believe NewGen™ represents the future of boxwood for the industry.”

By maintaining bio-secure testing methods and standards, we hope to continue making introductions of superior plants that maintain brand standards. We aim to establish a regional network of premier licensed growers and propagators to share these plants in landscapes all over the United States. We will dedicate 2019 to introducing the program to the industry and its customers, building production on our two initial selections. Plants are scheduled to be available for sale in the spring of 2020. At this time, we are partnering with 4 growers to distribute the product line: Overdevest Nurseries, NJ; Prides Corner Farms, CT; Saunders Brothers Nursery, VA; and Willoway Nurseries, OH.

NewGen™ Boxwood intends to raise the bar for boxwood to meet the changing dynamics of a new generation of the American garden and gardener.

Pictured is the NewGen™ team, Lindsay Day (left) Marketing Coordinator and Bennett Saunders (right) General Manager of Saunders Genetics.