HRI Launches New Boxwood Variety Evaluation Initiative

Horticultural Research Institute • October 9, 2019

HRI has recently relaunched its Emerging Issues: Boxwood Blight Fund and will use this fund to coordinate development efforts for a standardized evaluation of boxwood varieties’ tolerance of or susceptibility to boxwood blight.

In 2012, in response to confirmations of boxwood blight in the United States, HRI established the Emerging Issues: Boxwood Blight Fund and dedicated over $16,000 towards research on mitigation efforts. Since then, HRI has leveraged these funds to gain an additional $2.7 million through multiple funding sources including the USDA-ARS Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative and USDA-APHIS Farm Bill. HRI continues to directly fund boxwood blight research, including two projects funded in 2018.

In addition to needed mitigation research, the industry needs to better understand which boxwood varieties exhibit tolerance or susceptibility. HRI is using the re-established Boxwood Blight Fund to help establish a standardized testing protocol. Previous research has shown potential variability among results. For example, a variety may show high tolerance in one site but moderate tolerance at another site. Ultimately, HRI hopes to endorse a labeling system indicating a variety’s tolerance level to guide better choices by nursery growers, retail customers, and landscape managers. Both the Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association and the West Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association have committed $10,000 toward this work.

To make a charitable contribution in support of the Boxwood Fund, please contact HRI at 614-487-1117. Make checks payable to HRI at 2130 Stella Ct; Columbus, OH 43215 and include a memo line: Boxwood Blight.

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