Harland boxwood / Chinese boxwood
(Buxus harlandii)
Country of Origin : China
Bonsai Styles : Formal upright, Informal upright, slanting, Literati, Root over rock, miniature landscape, clump, semi-cascade
Zone : 7 – 9
Harland boxwood (also known as Chinese boxwood) is an evergreen shrub that should be treated as sub-tropical or tender when grown in pots.
It is a richly-branching, robust, ornamental shrub that grows slowly, eventually becoming a large shrub or small tree. It was primarily used for hedges.
It should not be confused with Buxus microphylla (Japanese boxwood). You can read more about Japanese boxwood bonsai here. B. harlandii has thinner and slightly larger leaves. Sometimes, Japanese holly bonsai (Ilex crenata) is used as a replacement for Harland boxwood bonsai.
The tree has small, shiny, dark green, leathery, lanceolate leaves (shaped like long narrow spoons). It has a very hard sturdy trunk with corky, rough, deeply furrowed but pliable brown bark with a slight tinge of yellow.
Early in the spring, it blooms with masses of aromatic small white flowers. The leaf clusters are produced around leaf joints and create added color from spring into summer. Even though the flowers are inconspicuous, they are produced in large numbers.
It produces oval- or round-shaped pods as fruit.
With its small leaves and attractive bark, this Buxus harlandii works best as a bonsai; it is also tolerant of a slightly warmer indoor climate. There are some bonsai growers who have some wonderful and very old Buxus harlandii bonsai trees. It is a very strong tree that can withstand most adverse conditions, despite its slow growth. Also, Harland boxwood is an adaptable plant that can survive a variety of shocks caused by sudden changes in its environment. However, it is very important to remember that only experienced bonsai growers can successfully keep it indoors for a long time. Hence, this is not a bonsai for beginner bonsai growers.
Read more about other bonsai trees species in : Types of bonsai tree
Best location to keep Harland Boxwood bonsai tree
Harland Boxwood bonsai can be grown indoors all year round. Keep it in a cool west or east facing window. Do not place this bonsai near a south facing window as this window has the maximum amount of direct sunlight. It is very important to provide lots of fresh air for Buxus harlandii bonsai. Unlike most indoor bonsai trees, it won’t mind a certain amount of draft. Also, please read how to grow indoor bonsai using grow lights.
Even though this plant can be grown outside during the summer, it is best to keep it in a warm, bright but partially shaded location (not direct sun). Also protect the bonsai from the winds. You can also keep the bonsai outside after the last frost in spring. On the contrary, Japanese boxwood bonsai can be grown in full sun.
During the winter season, keep the bonsai in a cool, unheated room. An ideal temperature range is between 41°F and 64°F (5°C and 18°C). However, it can tolerate temperatures as high as 86°F (30°C). But it is crucial to NOT keep the this bonsai near a heat source. Also, when grown as a bonsai, this is a tender plant hence it can be easily killed or severely damaged by frost.
Click here to read our detailed guide to indoor bonsai tree care.
IMP: Refer to do bonsai trees need sunlight for more indoor and outdoor bonsai location ideas. Also, refer sunlight requirements for indoor plants for more indoor gardening ideas.
Propagation of Harland Boxwood bonsai tree
Harland Boxwood can be propagated using lignified cuttings in late summer. The cutting should be planted in a cold frame or in an open space in a peat-sand mixture. Early fall is another good time to take cuttings before bud-break. After they have rooted well, pot them up the following spring.
Watering Harland Boxwood bonsai tree
How often do you water Harland boxwoods in pots?
Water the bonsai thoroughly during the summer season. Let the soil become fairly dry between each watering session (let it dry out a little more than other bonsai varieties). But do not let it dry out completely. You can also immerse the pot in a tub of water. Also, occasionally mist the bonsai in hot conditions. In case you have put a water tray below the pot, remove the water from the saucer to avoid giving the bonsai “wet feet.”
You can use hard tap water for Harland boxwood bonsai as it likes some lime in the soil.
The bonsai does poorly in wet soil and overwatering can be extremely damaging for this bonsai.
In the months of winter, if the bonsai is placed in a cool room, the frequency of watering should be reduced. Basically it depends on the conditions where the bonsai is placed.
Read watering bonsai tree (for immersion technique) and indoor bonsai tree care for more details.
Wiring Harland Boxwood bonsai tree
Harland Boxwood bonsai can be wired at any time of the year. If you are planning for extreme styles such as cascade, wiring must start at a very early stage as the older trunks are hard and cannot be bent. And any such attempt will certainly damage the bark.
Wiring can be done on branches that are one to two years old. The older branches will need to be guyed down with suspended wiring.
Keep checking the wire. It is not recommended to leave the wire on the tree for longer than two months.
Read : Detailed guide on How to wire a bonsai. This extensive guide includes all the wiring techniques and Do’s and Dont’s. It will also show you other bonsai training techniques which can be achieved without using wires.
Pruning Harland Boxwood bonsai tree
When to prune Harland Boxwood bonsai tree?
How to prune Harland Boxwood bonsai tree?
The branches of Harland boxwood can be pruned at any time of the year.
Branches and leaves can be shaped into cushion shapes by frequent pruning after the basic shape has been established.
As soon as six pairs of leaves have developed on a new shoot, cut back the new shoot to two to three pairs of leaves. (Approximately from 10 cm back to 2 cm).
Roots can be pruned in spring at the time of repotting. Also reduce the aerial parts.
Read how to prune a bonsai to know about the right technique of pruning and more about defoliating a bonsai tree.
Repotting Harland Boxwood bonsai tree
When to repot Harland Boxwood bonsai tree?
Harland Boxwood bonsai trees can be repotted every 2-3 years in the spring. It depends on the development of the roots.
Prune the roots to about half.
Buxus harlandii bonsai trees should not be planted in acidic soil. Use a free-draining bonsai soil mix.
You can also make a bonsai soil mix by mixing loam, sand and peat moss (2:2:1). If you prefer, you can also mix fired clay particles with sand and compost in a 3:1:1 ratio.
Please check out how to repot a bonsai to know everything about repotting and root pruning a bonsai.
Must Read: Bonsai Soil Recipes
Must read : Choosing the right bonsai container
Feeding Harland Boxwood bonsai tree
Start feeding your Harland boxwood bonsai in the spring and continue throughout the summer. Apply a weak liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks.
Once in the growing season, you can also apply some pulverized organic fertilizer.
Feed your bonsai once or twice in winter, and only if it is growing vigorously (this will happen if the bonsai is in a warm spot). Do not feed if the bonsai is dormant (usually in a cool spot).
Read more about bonsai fertilizer and its application. This will also give you more details on how to feed flowering bonsai trees.
Diseases and pest of Harland Boxwood bonsai tree
Buxus harlandii bonsai is not very susceptible to pests. Occasionally, it can be attacked by red spider mites and aphids.
Remove these pests manually by using a soap solution, alcohol, or a jet of water. In severe infestation use insecticide / systemic insecticide.
It can also be affected by rust. You can apply a fungicide such as Zineb or Propiconazole.
Please make sure you read our comprehensive guide: How to identify and treat bonsai pests and diseases is a great resource for you to see all the organic and inorganic remedies you can use.
