Boxwood Blight Insight Group (BBIG): Sanitation and Nursery Practices

Jennifer Gray • June 3, 2024

his educational session aims to equip nursery producers, gardeners, and plant health professionals with vital knowledge and strategies to combat the pervasive threat of Calonectria pseudonaviculata, the fungus responsible for the devastating boxwood blight.

Boxwood blight, a serious concern for the horticulture industry, jeopardizes the health and viability of boxwood plants, significantly impacting the ornamental plant market. Addressing this issue, the webinar will delve into the critical control points in nursery production, emphasizing effective sanitation practices to prevent and manage the spread of this disease.


Attendees of the webinar can expect to gain:

  • An understanding of the lifecycle and spread of Calonectria pseudonaviculata.
  • Insight into the latest research and developments in boxwood blight control.
  • Practical guidance on implementing effective sanitation and preventive measures in nursery production.
  • Strategies for identifying critical control points to mitigate the risk of boxwood blight in their operations.



This webinar is essential for anyone involved in the cultivation, care, or management of boxwood

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Bee Banquet in the Sky: Trees and Shrubs for Urban Pollinator Conservation

By Jennifer Gray • October 12, 2026
Urban landscapes can be important refuges for native bees and other pollinators. This talk covers why bees are critical for biodiversity and food security, why bee populations are declining, and how the gardening public can help by incorporating woody landscape plants to provide nectar, pollen, nesting sites and materials, and other resources. Following a brief overview of pollination ecology, we’ll “meet the bees”, and then discuss recent HRI-funded research that identified top native and non-native “bee magnets” amongst woody ornamental plants. The talk also explains why artificial bee “hotels” can become death traps and suggests better ways to create bee nesting sites through ordinary gardening practices. Attendees will receive PDF handouts and other information helpful for teaching others about the best trees and shrubs for bee conservation.
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A Biological Plot Twist: Can an Adventive Parasitoid Protect Boxwood?

By Jen Gray • August 12, 2026
CABI and USDA APHIS are collaborating on the biological control of the box tree moth using parasitoids from Asia. Several parasitoid species are currently under consideration for introduction into North America and Europe. One of these parasitoids arrived in Europe on its own and has begun controlling the moth on both planted trees and in wild boxwood stands. The webinar will describe the spread and impact of this adventive parasitoid in Europe and present efforts to assess the potential of this species and others as biological control agents in North America.
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HRI Leadership Academy Selects Class of 2027

By Jennifer Gray • June 30, 2026
Meet the HRI Leadership Academy Class of 2027. This intensive year-long program equips green industry leaders with strategic insight and business acumen.
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