Buxus sinica var. insularis Mipo - Korean boxwood

Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Mipo’ is a Korean selection of boxwood that stands out for its very compact habit, great hardiness, and improved resistance to pests, especially the fearsome box tree moth. This small evergreen shrub forms a dense mass of dark green, glossy foliage, ideal for structuring classic or contemporary gardens. Easy to prune, it lends itself to creating borders, topiary, or container cultivation. 

Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Mipo’ belongs to the Buxaceae family. This variety is a selection from Buxus sinica, a species native to East Asia — central and southern China (Sichuan, Yunnan), Taiwan, and Korea. This shrub grows in undergrowth and on mountain slopes at altitudes of 800 to 2,600 m. In cultivation, boxwood ‘Mipo’ naturally adopts a rounded and dense habit, well-branched from the base. Its growth is slow, around 5 to 10 cm per year. It reaches 60cm to 1m in height and width, or even 1.20m depending on conditions. Its evergreen foliage is composed of small, simple leaves, opposite, oblong to elliptical, with entire margins, measuring between 1.5 and 3cm long. They are medium to dark green, slightly glossy and leathery. The inconspicuous flowering occurs between late March and early May. Small, slightly fragrant, yellowish-green flowers appear in small clusters. This plant is monoecious: it bears distinct male and female flowers, but on the same plant. The fruits are very inconspicuous capsules, rarely seen in cultivation. The young branches are square in section, green to light brown, becoming light grey at maturity. The root system is fibrous, shallow and non-invasive. The cultivar 'Mipo' shows good resistance to diseases, notably to the box tree moth, to fungal diseases such as Cylindrocladium blight and to other common pests.

Boxwood ‘Mipo’ is a good alternative to traditional boxwood, even in very cold regions. This small evergreen shrub withstands repeated and severe pruning. Undemanding, hardy, and decorative all year round, this small boxwood proves to be a reliable choice for both classic and contemporary gardens.  It provides structure around a terrace, near an entrance, or in a small garden. Its vegetation enhances the architecture as well as all neighbouring plants. Boxwood is often used in beautiful ceramic or stone containers, and in small gardens for its strong, year-round decorative value, while taking up little space. In cottage gardens, it can delineate squares of aromatic plants, different parts of a vegetable patch, the area reserved for cut flowers...