Today’s post offers a possible solution to those who cannot grow Box Buxus sempervirens in their gardens anymore because of the spread of box blight. Read more about the disease here.
When out walking in the countryside here I have often noticed a very attractive shrub that most often grows in woodland but sometimes even just in the hedgerows by the side of the lanes. It has a strange common name in Italian than means “prick the mouse” its Latin name is Ruscus aculeatus, a native of Europe, North Africa and West Asia. One of its common names in English is Box holly or prickly Box, so you can see that it isn’t a new idea to think of it as having similar characteristics to Buxus species.
We saw some on our walk on 12th January and I resolved to return to take some cuttings.
Ruscus aculeatus with its attractive red berries
I also saw it growing in the Hillier Gardens near Southampton just before Christmas on a bleak day that wasn’t ideal for garden visiting but that I enjoyed very much.
Ruscus aculeatus close up of foliage
Hilliers, Ruscus aculeatus planted in the winter interest area of the garden
I’ll let you know if this proves an easy plant to cultivate; one obvious disadvantage is that it is slightly prickly as its common names in Italian and English suggest.
Do you know of any plants native in your area that are good for pruning into tight shapes?
If you would like to join GBFD please just leave a comment with your link and a link back to me in your post. I look forward to reading them.
Creating my own garden of the Hesperides 
Hi Christina, I have noticed our local garden centre advertising Ilex crenata as an alternative for gardeners with Box blight. Luckily here I haven’t (yet) suffered blight. I haven’t grown Ruscus asculaetus and have just looked it up, the RHS say its generally disease and pest free, the berries are a lovely addition too, so a winner. Looking forward to hearing how you get on with your cuttings.
I think that there must be other plants that would be suitable to replace box, we just need to find them.
Hi Christina – strangely, this ruscus doesn’t actually look prickly. I am Wordless today at http://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/wordless-wednesday-garden-bloggers-foliage-day/ Thanks for hosting – I was fascinated by all the different ivies when I came to take today’s photographs. I love them! Lots of foliage to choose from, and this GBFD has made me appreciate it all the more.
Thanks for joining in again this month Cathy; wordless or not I always look forward to reading your posts.
Oh thanks Christina 🙂
I’m lucky so far not to have been affected by box blight but would probably look to Ilex crenata if I had to find a replacement.
I think this is a hardier plant than the Ilex.
Interesting plant, but it really doesn’t seem too friendly. Box will be hard to replace, I’m hoping that since I live in the middle of a horticultural wasteland I’m isolated enough to avoid the blight
It’s a shame to see so many old standards falling victim to introduced blights, fungi and insects
Gardeners and plant sellers have brought many of these things on themselves. But Box blight is maybe more due to changing climate.
I think it’s a great idea and on the female form you have the advantage of nice red berries. It’s common name is Butcher’s Broom.
I didn’t find that common name but there were a lot of names on the RHS site.
They grow wild here too in the woods and sometimes cover huge areas. Very pretty plant but I haven’t invited it into my garden yet. Surely a good alternative for milder regions.
Interesting that they grow in Germany too. I thought of them being Mediterranean.
I was unaware of box blight and so found this very interesting. Thanks for hosting GBFD Christina. I featured a box after seeing your post earlier this morning. http://pbmgarden.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/garden-bloggers-foliage-day-january-2014/
Thanks for joining GBFD again this month. Evergreens seem to be the plants everyone wants in winter.
I’m not sure what might be native to London but there are loads of wintergreen shrubs that don’t mind being tightly pruned. Having said that I’m partial to deciduous Corylus avellana as I love the twisty stems! Thanks for the inspiration for this post – I’ve joined in after reading Cathy’s post! http://bit.ly/1g1lGqr
Thanks for joining in, there are lots of things that can be pruned but often they grow fast and it is difficult to contain them.
I would be sad to lose boxwood, although here in Texas our native dwarf yaupon holly is commonly used in place of it. Your Ruscus aculeatus is an attractive alternative, and I like the berries too.
Yes the berries are good, I must make sure I take my cuttings from a plant that has berries as Chloris says there are male and female plants, I need to check that. I don’t think box blight will be a problem in Texas with your dry conditions, the blight likes moist conditions which is why it is such a problem in the UK and northern Europe.
So far box blight hasn’t struck in the garden here. I would be devastated to lose all my box balls, they have taken years to reach the size they are. My plants have a larger leaf than Buxus sempervirens, I think they are B.Suffruticosa, so maybe this variety is immune – I hope so.
Sorry I haven’t joined in yet, I took all my photos and started preparing my post yesterday and then I suddenly found I couldn’t pick up my photos for my post ! I am now waiting for my son to sort me out!
Not all Box are affected and I think you’re right that B. suffruticosa is less prone to attack. I’ll look forward to reading your post whenever you manage to overcome the photo issues.
I’m trying our spekboom Portulacaria afra. A tough succulent with tiny green leaves. They say – it can be hedged or topiaried. It certainly provides generous numbers of cuttings.
I like the look of that, will be interesting to see how you get on with it. I am hoping that myrtle will lend itself to evergreen tightly pruned hedging, as I have loads of it thanks to the birds, plus it smells lovely and seems to flower for quite a long time too. And of course I have my teucrium plant, waiting for the weather to be dry long enough for me to clear the space it is to go in!
The Ruscus grows wild around us in the woods in the Charente Maritime. I’ve found it excellent for shady areas and it does not seem to mind being dry in the summer. I’ve never wanted to trim it though, it doesn’t grow very tall here.
The form is good even without pruning but I think it could. E shaped and certainly it is a less expensive option than box.
At last, problem solved, so here is my post, better late than never! Sorry for the delay.
http://leadupthegardenpath.com/
No problem at all Pauline, I’m sure your post is worth waiting a few days for. Thank you for joining in.
I’ve never been big on pruning into balls or squares, but your success in this area could change all that. Our boxes are all au naturelle and thriving.
My Foliage Follow-up post focuses on Delusional Drive. I wonder if you can see the influences from your slope?
http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/3561
So far box blight is prevalent in Northern Europe it thrives where there are damp or humid conditions. I like box au natural ears well as clipped.