Green Gem Boxwoods With No Winter Bronzing - February 2023

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A couple of weeks ago, I posted a photo and details of a singular Boxwood - Green Mountain - that I planted under our tree swing Oak Tree and talked about how it was turning a bright almost-orange color in what they call "Winter Bronzing".  In that post, I included some references that called out Green Mountain as a particular cultivar that was noted for NOT bronzing and maintaining green color all year long.  I came to the conclusion that I wasn't quite sure this was, indeed, a Green Mountain boxwood.  The shape - which is indeterminate at this point - is going to be the real tell.  Green Mountain is pyramidal vs more globe-shaped.  As it matures, that's going to be something to watch.  

At the same (Fall 2021) that I planted the Green Mountain boxwood, I also planted three tiny Green Gem boxwoods on the other side of the yard.  Green Gem is a dwarf cultivar that grows in a small globe-like shape that gets just a couple of feet tall and wide.  (note...the Missouri Botanic Garden says it will get to '3 to 4 feet' tall and wide)

The photo at the top of this post shows these Green Gem boxwoods.  After one full growing season.  They're doing much better (seemingly) than the Green Mountain in terms of overwintering with almost no signs of Winter bronzing.

Looking back at the planting photo, I think that I can see some clear maturity and growth from all three of these.  One of the things that I'm going to try to prioritize/focus on this year is adding even more evergreens - including more boxwoods in places that get partial sun and others like Yews for places that get deeper shade. 

Location: Downers Grove, IL, USA

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