Boxwood. Good for bonsai, or not.

mike_p

I've been a fan of boxwood for bonsai for many years. I'm always surprised to find that many bonsaiists don't like boxwood. Some even hate it.
I've often wondered why this is, and thought maybe some answers can be found on this forum.
IMHO, collected boxwood from old hedges often has great trunk potential, and the foliage is always in good proportion. The wood is hard and durable, and takes well to carving.
So, bonsaiTALKers, what say you? Like it? Hate it? Don't care one way or the other?

Mike

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adamgriffon

I've actually considered buying a Boxwood. I see them at stores such as Home Depot and Lowes. Ive seen some with suprisingly nice trunks and roots, so I'm actually looking forward to seeing what people have to say about them.

sherwin

I'm new to this forum and I'm new to Bonsai, but I really like Boxwoods. So far, I have several, including a Morris Midget and a couple of Kingsville trees. I love the look of old oak trees. I'm still a little unsure about wintering my little Boxwoods in the northern NY/NJ area, but I'll figure it out before winter hits our area.

Here is a pic of my Morris Midget.

sherwin

And he's my most recent Boxwood, a Kingsville that needs some styling.

node

Most of what I know about box, is what I could glean from your knowledgeable posts.

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fredtruck

I have a boxwood I've been working with for 7 years. In general, I enjoy it a lot. I think the foliage is sometimes difficult to work with--at least on mine, the slightest bit of shadow from other, better placed foliage causes dieback. The other problem with boxwoods is not in the tree itself, but in people's expectations. They often want to see a live oak style. I find boxwoods really lend themselves well to other styles, also. If you have a very heavy trunk with a lot of taper, a kind of beat up, chewed up field tree you often can see here in the Midwest is an ideal style choice. These trees are impressive because they often suffer great violence from the wind and animals and lightening and floods, and still continue surviving magnificently. Boxwoods can be deadwood paradise.

rschlafer

I like boxwood!! When you get a new flush of foliage it keep me busy trimming it back....So my other trees are safe...for a while

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rlist

While I think they can be used in a variety of styles, can develop great bark, and have a nice small leaf, I don't like them - and in fact, I won't even have them in my yard. The reason, their scent reminds me of cat piss. And, yes, if you have ever left the window of your car down and had a ferral cat mark your passenger seat, it is a smell you never want to be around again...

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bwaynef

I have one. Its a bit overgrown, and this post is a reminder that I probably need to work on it a little bit.

Boxwood isn't my favorite species, but the trunks look aged pretty quickly. The problem I have with them is that they are SOOO brittle. As I progress though, I'm finding ways around that problem. The progress is starting to show too.

Right now, I can take 'em or leave 'em.

WF

ps. Mike_P, having seen one of your boxwoods on display I can understand why you like them.

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