We Have A Very Big Boxwood Plant In The Front…
Anna Asked
We have a very big boxwood plant in the front yard of our house that we trim to keep the plant looking nice, and when it rains (which will be constant from now until June), the boxwood smells awful! Can you give me a solution to get rid of the smell? If we have to, we’ll uproot the boxwood but I’d rather leave it. I just can’t stand the smell!
The Gardener’s Answer
Hi, Anna in Oregon: Boxwoods (Buxus) are a great low-maintenance evergreen that can tolerate sun or shade and are not too picky about their soil conditions. The downside to these plants is the offensive scent they give off. Many people describe this odor as cat urine and I would have to agree. Unfortunately, this is a natural characteristic and there is nothing we can do to stop it. Some species have a stronger scent than others. I am not sure which one you are growing and there are many species, but in general the sempervirens (English boxwood) species and cultivars are more pungent, especially if they are grown in the sun. If you want to replace it with a less scented species you can plant Buxus microphylla (Japanese boxwood) species and cultivars. Many of these are hybrids between both species so if you really find it offensive you might just end up pulling it out and replacing it with another dwarf evergreen. It seems a shame to lose a healthy established plant but maybe you can find another gardener that would like to have it.
