Knowledgebase
Issue with boxwoods #913896
Asked August 13, 2025, 1:49 PM EDT
Oakland County Michigan
Expert Response
This looks like it could be boxwood blight, though you would need to send in a sample to confirm that. ( I am having a hard time with the clarity of the photo when I try to zoom in). The following article describes some symptoms and signs that you can look for on the bushes.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/boxwood-blight-disease-identified-in-michigan
You have two options here- rip these plants out and replant with a different type of plant (see next paragraph), or you can send a sample into the MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostics to confirm that this is boxwood blight. https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/ There is no cure for boxwood blight, so if you do confirm that you will still need to carefully dispose of all plant matter in the manner you can read about in the article above. (Double bag all plant material and dispose of in trash- not compost, try to include all fallen leaves and plant material).
The following article discusses some alternatives to boxwood:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/beyond-boxwood-alternative-landscape-shrubs-for-michigan-gardeners