Hello friends in bonsai -
In searching for an answer for the true botanical name of the cultivar
we call 'Kingsville' boxwood, I was fortunate enough to be directed to
Lynn Batdorf at the US Natl. Arboretum. He's the curator of the
boxwood collection there, the registrar of cultivar names, the author
of the Boxwood Handbook, and just pretty much the ultimate arbitor for
such a question. Also, he was kind enough to give a thorough history
of the so-called Kingsville box, and asked me to pass it on to you.

I do so here to the list as well as to the IBC Gallery where the
question originally arose, knowing that the readership of the two
doesn't entirely overlap. Apologies to anyone who gets it twice.

Anita
(who, I have to admit, still calls her 'Compacta' boxes Kingsville in
moments of forgetfullness)

from Lynn Batdorf:

Yes, probably the entire bonsai community incorrectly uses the name
Buxus microphylla /Kingsville/ and /Kingsville Dwarf/ when referring
to'Compacta'. I'm very glad to set the record straight for you.

Buxus microphylla 'Compacta' was registered by Dr. Donald Wyman in his
1963 article "Boxwood Prized Where Ever Hardy Form is Found" which
appeared in the 117(7):50 issue of American Nurseryman.

Henry Hohman had showed the plant to Wyman who went on to register it.
It originated as a seedling selected by William Appleby of Baltimore
in 1912. When Appleby died in the 1920's, Hohman bought the boxwood
seedlings and began propagating them. 'Compacta' was released to the
trade in 1937. At the suggestion of Dr. Wyman then of the Arnold
Arboretum in Massachusetts, Hohman originally named the plant Buxus
microphylla var. compacta.

Growing very slowly with small leaves and treelike branching has made
'Compacta' a prefect and popular choice for bonsai. The first
'Compacta' used for bonsai originated from the Kingsville Nursery in
Kingsville, Maryland, thus using the source as a name, bonsai
enthusiasts call it /Kingsville/ or /Kingsville Dwarf/.

The named selected by Hohman (B. microphylla var. compacta) is a
synonym for B. microphylla 'Compacta'. /Kingsville/ and /Kingsville
Dwarf/ are also a synonym for B. microphylla 'Compacta'.

I would be grateful if you could pass this registration information on
to the larger bonsai community. I find it quite unfortunate to see
such a beautiful bonsai specimen as 'Compacta' repeatedly and
incorrectly named as either /Kingsville/ or /Kingsville Dwarf/.

As a point of interest, your nurseryman in Kingsville is correct.
Also, as you correctly noted, 'Compacta' does throw sports of its own,
having given rise to several other registered boxwood cultivars that
are stable: 'Curly Locks', 'Grace Hendrick Phillips', 'Helen Whiting',
'Henry Hohman', and 'Sunlight'.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,
Lynn R. Batdorf
International Cultivar Registration Authority for Buxus
U.S. National Arboretum

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