What’s Wrong with My Boxwood? Common Issues and Solutions
DOWNLOADFebruary 19, 2026 - Melanie Fuhrmann and Caitlin Splawski, Michigan State University Extension
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EmailWinter Damage
Environmental Damage
- Browning of foliage
- Spring leaf drop
- Caused by cold, wind, sun, salt
- Severe or repeated damage can kill plants
Management Tips
- Plant hardy cultivars
- Avoid late-summer pruning
- Use burlap screens or windbreaks for protection
Box Tree Moth
Invasive Caterpillar
- Chewed leaves & webbing
- Defoliated - Skeletonized branches
- Quick onset of damage
- Can lead to plant death
- Green caterpillars with black stripes, white spots & Management Tips a shiny black head
Management Tips
- Hand-pick larvae for small infestations
- Keep plants healthy with proper pruning & watering
- Double bag dead plants and clippings for disposal in trash
- Visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/tag/box-tree-moth for other treatment options
Read More: https://www.canr.msu.edu/tag/box-tree-moth
Boxwood Leafminer
Native Fly Larva
- Blistered, yellowed leaves
- Yellow-orange discoloration
- Clicking sound when shaken
- Cosmetic damage, may weaken plants over time
Management Tips
- Prune after adult fly season (late Spring)
- Plant resistant cultivars
- Chemical control can be difficult
Boxwood Blight
Fungal Disease
- Brown leaf spots
- Rapid leaf drop and bare branches
- Black lesions on stems
- Highly infectious
- Can kill entire plants quickly
Management Tips
- Use resistant cultivars
- Remove infected plants & debris, double bag and dispose in trash
- Sanitize tools and equipment
Read More: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/preventing-the-spread-of-boxwood-blight-in-landscapes
Boxwood Psyllid
Sap-Sucking Insect
- Cupped or puckered new leaves
- White waxy/cottony filament
- Distorts growth but damage is cosmetic
Management Tips
- Prune out damaged tips in early summer
- Chemical treatment is not recommended, but horticultural oil or insecticidal soap can be applied early spring
Read More: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/boxwood_insect_pests
Boxwood Mites
Tiny Spider Mite
- Leaf stippled (tiny pale white or yellow dots)
- Dull or bronzed leaf appearance
- Heavy infestations will weaken plants over time
Management Tips
- Monitor for stippling and discoloration
- Plan to treat spring into early summer
- Horticultural oil or insecticidal soap are effective treatment options
This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no 2024-70006-43569] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or
recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
