For many years, the Horticultural Teaching and Research Institute (LVG) Bad Zwischenahn-Rostrup in Germany has been testing boxwood alternatives for small edging hedges under practical conditions. The focus is on the question of which woody plants are suitable as a replacement for boxwood – which is currently plagued by diseases and pests – in terms of winter hardiness, pests, diseases, hedge density, and growth vigor. As one of the few flowering alternatives in the field of evergreen shrubs, the Rhododendron Bloombux® from the INKARHO® breeding program has proven its worth.

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The Horticultural Teaching and Research Institute is now already conducting its third trial on boxwood alternatives. The current trial was established in 2015. A total of fifty different alternatives are currently being tested there, including deciduous and coniferous shrubs as well as perennials. For the test, one-meter-long hedge elements were planted in triplicate and are pruned twice a year, in July and October, to a height and width of approximately 20 cm. The assessment includes the evaluation of growth vigor, hedge density, and abiotic and biotic damage. Due to the increasingly devastating problems with boxwood, the trial is meeting with great interest within the "green industry."

"Overall, Bloombux® has shown positive results in the trials and has proven to be a practical alternative to boxwood," explains Björn Ehsen, who has overseen the trials since the beginning. From the start, Bloombux® impressed with uniform growth and high suitability for topiary. In addition, the dwarf rhododendron convinced with its lime-tolerant and hardy properties, as well as its abundant flowering in June. In this context, not only did the use of Bloombux® as a low hedge work well, but also its use as ground cover. This is demonstrated by a presentation in the adjacent "Park der Gärten" in Bad Zwischenahn. The boxwood alternative can also be planted as a hemisphere or potentially in containers, even if this was not specifically tested as part of this trial.

Nevertheless, there are also limitations, as the expert notes: "Bloombux® is a rhododendron that has specific site requirements. Therefore, care should be taken to ensure an adequate supply of nutrients, and a sunny to partially shaded location with humus-rich, well-drained soil should be chosen whenever possible," says Ehsen. "If these factors are considered, Bloombux® is definitely a worthy alternative."

Furthermore, similar long-term trials were conducted at other locations in Germany. Bloombux® also proved reliable in these: In a trial in Erfurt, it was classified as a "recommended alternative" (provided site requirements were met), and in Dresden-Pillnitz, Bloombux® also performed well in the overall assessment. The dwarf rhododendron also impressed in a demonstration facility of the Chamber of Agriculture Lower Saxony in Hannover-Ahlem, where various plants were tested for their suitability as ground cover for grave plantings. This makes it clear: even in drier, sunny locations, the results remained stable.

For consumers and the specialist trade, Bloombux® is thus a proven boxwood alternative. It combines the classic usability of boxwood with insect-friendliness, site flexibility, and additional floral beauty. The results of the long-term trial by the LVG Bad Zwischenahn, combined with the tests at other locations, confirm that Bloombux® represents a reliable long-term choice for garden centers, landscapers, and their customers – not only in Germany but throughout Europe.