Buxus sempervirens 'BLAUER HEINZ' German box

This box variety follows a range of numerous crossings made in Germany from 1960’s in the effort to achieve a hardy and ever-beautiful box plant. It was found by Mr.Heinz in Herrenhausen royal garden in Hanover in late 1980’s as a natural mutation of buxus sempervirens “Suffruticosa” and named after him: Blauer Heinz.

It proved hardier than the species and on top of that brought two significant features not common for any other box variety known by then. Its evergreen leaves are blue-green rather than just green and have a frosted feeling just like maturing blue grapes early in the morning. Another important feature is its habit – it grows strictly upright and keeps itself compact and dense without any need for pruning.

Still, if you need to cut it do so in early spring after danger of all frost (to encourage branching), or in mid summer (for shaping). Box shrubs are not too fussy about soil type provided it is well-drained. In wet soil the leaves will turn yellow or brown and the plant will slowly die. Blauer Heinz likes both sun and partial shade and can be grown in an outdoor pot (no saucer!). Hardy to min. -27°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 16-02-2013