BetterBuxus® 'Skylight' in a ball shape (Resistant Boxwood)
- Regular price
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€65,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€65,95
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is BetterBuxus resistant to the box tree moth? No, the resistance only applies to the fungus: the box tree moth still needs to be monitored in spring and summer.
When should you prune a boxwood into a ball? Twice a year, in May and August, in cloudy weather to prevent the cut leaves from turning brown in the sun.
SHIPPING & PACKAGING
Shipping within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 business days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection to ensure the plant arrives in perfect condition
- Parcel tracking sent by email as soon as shipped
- Free delivery on orders over €50
48H QUALITY GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us within 48 hours at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- Free replacement or full refund
- No return necessary – we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage related to transport, severely weakened plant upon arrival, preparation errors.
CARE TIPS UPON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack immediately and inspect your plant
- Let it acclimatize 24-48h in a bright spot without direct sunlight
- Check soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting
- Avoid heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🛡️ Resistant to boxwood blight • ⚪ Dense pre-formed ball • 🌿 Deep green evergreen foliage • ☀️ Sun to shade • ❄️ Hardy down to -20 °C • 🪴 2 sizes
The BetterBuxus® 'Skylight' is a boxwood developed through twenty years of selection at Wageningen University to obtain resistance to Cylindrocladium, the fungus responsible for the dieback that decimated European boxwood. Delivered as a pre-formed ball, it joins the terrace shrubs in the catalogue.
Its distinctive feature is this resistance: where a classic Buxus sempervirens can become sparse in one season and die within two, 'Skylight' resists the fungus while retaining the fine foliage and density that make boxwood so appealing for topiary.
Light & placement
Boxwood tolerates an exceptionally wide range of exposures, from full sun to deep shade. This explains its historic use in formal gardens, where a reliable green mass was needed everywhere.
- Exposure: sun, partial shade or shade — overly low light simply slows growth.
- Placement: terrace, entrance, pathway, balcony, courtyard — including north-facing corners.
- Hardiness in a pot: down to -20 °C.
- Soil type: ordinary, well-draining and rather alkaline — boxwood is one of the few shrubs that appreciates basic soil.
Avoid full afternoon sun in summer for potted plants: the foliage will not scorch, but the small volume of growing medium dries out very quickly.
Watering & care
Boxwood is one of the most tolerant shrubs in the catalogue once established. A well-draining growing medium is sufficient in a pot, and sudden thinning remains the warning sign to watch for.
- Watering: moderate — once a week in summer for this pot volume, very sparingly in winter.
- Drainage: essential — never leave standing water in the saucer.
- Pruning: twice a year, in May and August, following the sphere — always in cloudy weather.
- Box tree moth: monitor from April to September — BetterBuxus® resistance applies to the fungus, not the caterpillar.
- Fertilizer: fertilizer for boxwood or evergreen shrubs, once at the beginning of spring.
Always prune in cloudy weather: cut in full sun, the small leaves brown along their edges and the ball remains marked for several weeks.
Decorating ideas & plant combinations
The boxwood ball is the ultimate structural element: it changes neither shape nor color, and serves as a fixed point around which other plants evolve throughout the seasons.
- To frame an entrance, place two identical plants on either side of the door — this is the classic use of boxwood, and the regularity of the delivered balls makes symmetry immediate.
- For a contrast of clipped shapes, pair it with a Delavay privet on a standard — one ball at ground level and one elevated, in the same geometric style.
- For a Japanese-inspired garden, place it at the foot of an 'Emerald Lace' Japanese maple — the full green mass anchors the maple's airy cascade.
- To enhance the pot, a container made of terracotta or natural fiber complements the classic character of boxwood better than a brightly colored pot.
The 25 cm Ball size suits a planter or wide ledge; the 30 cm size stands alone on the ground and structures a terrace corner.
Verdeia tips
- Do not confuse the two threats to boxwood: BetterBuxus® resists Cylindrocladium, the fungus that causes leaves to blacken and fall. The box tree moth, however, is a caterpillar that devours the foliage and must be monitored from April to September, on this cultivar as on others.
- Prune in cloudy weather, twice a year: in May and then in August. Boxwood tolerates pruning very well, but leaves cut in full sun turn brown along their edges and mark the ball for weeks.
- Do not try to acidify the growing medium: unlike maple or magnolia, boxwood prefers alkaline soil. Ericaceous compost and rainwater are unnecessary.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Buxus BetterBuxus® 'Skylight'
- Common name: Resistant boxwood, boxwood ball
- Family: Buxaceae
- Origin: European selection, Wageningen University
- Dimensions on delivery: 2 sizes, 25 cm Ball | Pot Ø23 cm and 30 cm Ball | Pot Ø26 cm
- Growth habit: dense pre-formed ball
- Mature height: 1 to 1.50 meters without pruning, maintained as a ball with two annual trims
- Exposure: sun to shade
- Watering: moderate, growing medium dry between waterings
- Soil type: ordinary, well-draining and rather alkaline
- Hardiness: down to -20 °C
- Growth: slow, two trims per year
- Foliage: evergreen, small oval deep green leaves
- Resistance: selected for its tolerance to Cylindrocladium buxicola
- Care: easy, seasonal monitoring for box tree moth
- Toxicity: toxic if ingested; leaves and bark are affected
- Decorative style: Classic / Graphic / Terrace
Each plant is unique: foliage density and the exact regularity of the ball vary slightly from one specimen to another.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Shipping is done within 48 business hours, with tracked delivery within 2 to 5 business days. Delivery costs €5.60 — free for orders over €50. You will receive a tracking link as soon as the package is shipped.
What to do upon receiving my plant?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What to do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.