One
of the most exciting things we do at Saunders Brothers is to coordinate the
National Boxwood Trials. Boxwood are gaining popularity for several reasons,
one of which is the deer will not forage on them except during deep snows in
exceptionally high deer populations.
This project officially began in the late
1990s when we at Saunders Brothers realized that there was little
information comparing the performance of boxwood in varying
microenvironments. With the help of several other boxwood enthusiasts, we
set up a format for cooperators to use in evaluating plants. Over the past
several years, more than thirty major botanical gardens and arboretums,
including thirteen universities, colleges, and test stations have participated. In addition,
there are several individuals and large nurseries participating in the
project. The test sites range from Connecticut to Georgia, and then
across the "boxwood belt" from Birmingham to Memphis and northward to
Chicago.
As of June 2005, we have not only
coordinated the reporting and publication of the results, but Saunders
Brothers, Inc. has donated nearly 2000 plants and cuttings, representing
twenty cultivars, for testing, at no charge to the cooperators. The data on
several years' testing has been published; the most recent, National
Boxwood Trials, 2006 Report, was released in the summer of 2005.
More than fifty participants evaluated plants on their performance (Grower
Friendliness) and striking beauty (Impulse Cosmetics) in their various
microenvironments.
The participants defined their
microclimates, exposures, geographical locations, protection (natural and
artificial), soil drainage, and pH. Through the analysis of trial report
data, we can better project "the good, the bad and the ugly" in boxwood
cultivars. The reader can compare his own particular site with a similar one
in the report, which will better predict boxwood performance in his
location. These reports are available to the public at a cost.
Tatum and I went to the Republic of
Georgia in Central Asia in the summer of 2001 on a boxwood collection trip.
Our team returned with more than eighty lots of seeds and cuttings for
evaluation. In the spring of 2002, we sent sixty different plants to the
Republic of Georgia, representing ten different cultivars. In
August 2003, we sent rooted cuttings to the Nikita Botanical Gardens in
Yalta, Ukraine. In spring 2004, we sent rooted cuttings to China for
evaluation. We are excited that the testing has become international in
scope.
Come see the plants at Saunders Brothers
to view a whole new group of handsome cultivars for beautifying your
landscape.
Paul and Tatum Saunders
Boxwood:
Choosing the Best
National Boxwood Trials Report 2006
Included in this edition is an update on overseas boxwood
plantings in England, China, and the Republic of Georgia. There is also a short
section on the American Boxwood Society Annual Meeting held in Lynchburg,
Virginia in May 2005.
Due to the cost of compiling and printing the report, there is a
charge of $20.00 per copy plus $4.00 shipping and handling. (Note that orders
outside of the USA have additional costs. Please call ahead.) If you would like to
order the 'National Boxwood Trials Report 2006', please fill out the form
below or call us at 434-277-5455. We will call you to confirm your order and type of payment. We accept VISA and
MasterCard. For those wishing to pay by check, please make your check out to 'National
Boxwood Trials' and mail to:
Saunders Brothers Inc.
2717 Tye Brook Highway
Piney River, VA 22964
Attn: Deborah Priggle
Saunders Brothers, Inc., 2717 Tye Brook Hwy, Piney River, VA 22964 ~
434-277-5455 ph., 434-277-8010 fax
