Looking for all of the fresh, evergreen loveliness with none of the needle mess? Boxwood is your happy answer, old faithful from the garden. The dependable, adaptable shrub that screens foundations, borders walkways, and boxes in overflowing flowers beds also yields quietly beautiful, bright green sprigs and branches, lasting for weeks in garlands, swags, and wreaths. Look for boxwood “evergreenery” in florists and retailers with a flair for unique finds at Christmastime.
True to its faithful, unassuming character, boxwood is a behind-the-scenes Bible plant, not mentioned by name but discovered when digging into Hebrew words, Holy Land horticulture, and the King James translation.
The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
Isaiah 60:13 KJV
Quoted from our Glory of Lebanon Garden blog from Christmas past,
These passages of Scripture [Isaiah 41:19 & Isaiah 60:13] have always been a botanical challenge, as the original Hebrew words indicating the plant identities are not straightforward. What NIV translators have called “fir” and “cypress” have been designated laurustinus and boxwood by other researchers… this conifer conundrum is good news for those who love to garden, opening up Isaiah’s lists to include a wider range of plant material, including broadleafs among the traditional Christmas tree types.
—Shelley S. Cramm, A Glory of Lebanon Garden, December 2014
Boxwood has been added to our Plant Guide in celebration of the season. May your boxwood hedges, though modest and ordinary, connect your land to the Holy Land. May you grow ever-mindful of our God—everlasting, ever-present, faithful.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
Isaiah 40:28 NIV
Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalm 90:2 NIV
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1 NIV
Boxwood Evergreenery
May boxwood’s evergreenery inspire you to deck the halls and sing!
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Psalm 96:12-13 NIV
Find more information about boxwood at gardenndelight.wpengine.com/plant-guide/boxwood/
Photo Credits: ©2015 Shelley S. Cramm Boxwood from the garden makes a simple wreath. Adorn with cranberries for Christmas cheer.
