Thanks all, they're currently in the hall (potted though, not bare rooted, was just leaving packing around the pots whilst I see if they recover a bit/get opinions on their health status). Hall is the coolest spot in the house, was trying to quarantine them and didn't want to put them anywhere near the hedge at the front where they're supposed to live - we have a small back patio; there's no box but there are quite a few other plants that I was thinking it may be better to keep the new plants away from, plus our crazy plant eating cat can eat them out there and while they're shedding this much I don't want to risk her being sick (@AnniD box is toxic to most animals apparently) - she's not allowed out at the front. The hall was the only quarantine spot I could think of......can put them out against house wall in front of our bay window where they'd be a couple of feet away from most plants (and about 6 feet away from hedge). Will purchase seaweed extract - soil currently nice and moist as it was when they arrived.
I Agree about box being a problem now. Word of warning with Ilex create, it seems like a good alternative but they are much less tolerant of difficult conditions especially the hot dry summers we seem to be getting now. Look at the RHS website for good advice on alternatives.
If it's a hotter, drier area, many Hebes make a good substitute for box. H. Buxifolia, as the name suggests, is about as close as you can get to a box ball. The shrubby honeysuckles - Lonicera nitida or pileata are also good. They require more frequent clipping than box, but are virtually indestructible.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@KeenOnGreen, do you ever find the leaves on the Euonymus get eaten? I have a couple very similar to those (not sure of the variety), and the leaves were eaten in a type of "vine weevil" style. I never caught the culprits and there were no signs of grubs etc. They have made new growth since, so l wonder if l was just unlucky?
They eat my Euonymous @AnniD but I only have a couple of different ones. They don't all survive winter here. I certainly get damage on the Silver Queen but it doesn't seem to affect it too much - its pretty tough. I'd need to look at the other one, whose name I can't remember, but I'm just happy if it manages to get through winter! I don't always look at it much.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The shrubby honeysuckles - Lonicera nitida or pileata are also good. They require more frequent clipping than box, but are virtually indestructible.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
By far the easiest, problem-free and most Box-like plant I have ever grown is Euonymus Green Spire. They are the ones in the white pots below.
I'd need to look at the other one, whose name I can't remember, but I'm just happy if it manages to get through winter! I don't always look at it much.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...