Looking for a Solution to Boxwood Blight

Jennifer Polanz

With the presence of Boxwood Blight (BB) now in Northeast Illinois, the number of states BB has been detected in comes to at least 22, in both nursery and landscape settings. The Horticulture Research Institute (HRI) continues to monitor, support and communicate BB research activities as it relates to two closely related fungi: Calonectria pseudonaviculata and C. henricotiae, which cause BB on three plants, boxwood (Buxus), pachysandra and sweet box (Sarococca).

HRI has posted information related to sanitation and disinfection, mulching, fungicide usage, biological control, heat therapy and other methods based on research done on BB. Those can be found at HRIresearch.org under the title to the right “Thinking Outside the Boxwood.” GP