Forming a thick , rounded shrub , the Winter Gem boxwood is regarded for its surpassing tolerance to wintertime cold . Being a broadleaf evergreen , it retains its small leaves across winter , often flush with bronze tones atop the common green colouring material . In spring this boxwood kind sprouts bright , yellow - green stems and leaves that counterpoint older leaf .

Origins

A type of littleleaf boxwood ( Buxus microphylla ) , aboriginal to eastern Asia , the cultivated variety ( cultivar ) ' Winter Gem ' has a muddy , confusing history and origin . The classification of box cultivars is at odds with botanic expert have differing opinions on which cultivar belongs to which species or variety or hybrid . For good example , lit lists ' Winter Gem ' as both var . koreana or var . japonica , signify it was break from plants either native to the Korean Peninsula or Japan , respectively . Moreover , some name that ' Winter Gem ' is derived from a sport from a hybrid boxwood .

Habit

The Winter Gem littleleaf boxwood develop into a thickly biramous and leaved bush that is snipe to mounded in wont . At maturity it is 3 to 5 feet marvellous and wide .

Foliage

All box plants have humble oval leaves that are leatherlike and evergreen , persisting across winter ’s frigidness . The littleleaf box ’s leaves are somewhat smaller and a turn more gig - shaped than just an oval . choice ' Winter Gem ' has new spring foliation that is bright and yellow - green before maturing to a metier to mystifying dark-green by midsummer .

In winter the foliage may thinly bronze in color , adding to its ornamental value . twelvemonth - round of golf , the smell emit by the foliage is strongly musk - scented or almost skunk - alike . Many hoi polloi find the scent offense .

Flower

unremarkably not seen , but certainly noticed by honeybees , Turkish boxwood bring on many midget yellow - green heyday on their arm in mid - spring . Up nigh , they are adept - shape and situate at the base of farewell . They smell like white chocolate , or honey - sweet-smelling tansy .

Uses

Winter Gem boxwood stand winter cold better than many other cultivar , and thus makes it a good pick for a hedge or topiary in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 and 5 . However , wind in winter readily dries out foliage on Turkish boxwood plant ; thus , this cultivar should be planted in a part shaded location where warm sun and frigid , strong winds do not coalesce over the winter calendar month .

References

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