The name is derived from the greek words sarkos meaning flesh, and kokkos meaning a berry, a reference to the fleshy fruits. It features a ovate, sharppointed, somewhat leathery, glossy deep green, evergreen leaves to 2 12 long, b fragrant. A ground cover of sarcococca looks neat and uniform. An outstanding choice for dry shade gardens where other plants wont grow. I just replaced my gargantuan viburnums in my foundation beds with sarcococca. Announcing their presence with their incredible, sweet vanilla fragrance, tiny ivorywhite flowers appear in late winter to early spring, somewhat hidden among the dense foliage of glossy, slightly rippled, dark green leaves. Genus sarcococca are compact, sometimes suckering evergreen shrubs with simple, leathery leaves and tiny, fragrant creamywhite flowers in winter or spring, followed by red, purple or black berries which may persist into the following winter. Sarcococca hookeriana winter gem sweet box, christmas box. The plants botanical name is sarcococca and you will find sarcococca humilis, s.
It is an evergreen plant with origins in asia and a wide, spreading shape fuelled by its suckering habit. Sarcococca originate in china and the himalayas and are related to the common box, buxus hence the common name. May 24, 20 show you how to prune sarcococca or christmas box. The shrub has shiny, pointed, 3 long leaves that are medium to dark green and look good all year long. Jan 28, 2017 the plants botanical name is sarcococca and you will find sarcococca humilis, s. Sarcococca ruscifolia view plant great plant picks. Also known as christmas box and himalayan box, these demure. A genus of slow growing evergreen shrubs, grown for their foliage, fragrant, winter flowers and spherical fruits. Lustrous, lanceolate, leathery, dark green leaves to 3 12 long and to 34 wide are evergreen. Commonly known as the christmas box or sweet box, sarcococca hookeriana humilis is a dense and reliable evergreen shrub which is also incredibly simple to grow, making it a firm favourite of novice and experienced gardeners alike. Sarcococca is a versatile, low maintenance shrub that thrives in a good range of conditions from dry shade to damp woodland edges. Dense, quick spreading evergreen shrub, with dark lustrous foliage.
At present our information about this plant is limited to a list of the nurseries that. Branch trimmings very attractive as christmas decor. Grow sarcococca in any moist, well drained garden soil in a sheltered position, in semishade or shade. Tiny white flowers hidden amongst its glossy, darkgreen foliage, open to release a delightful perfume of sweet vanilla. Its dark, glossy, evergreen leaves, birdattracting berries, comfort in shady gardens even in dry shade. They are fragrant low growing evergreen shrubs native to china and the himalayas.
For example near the front entrance or along a walkway. Sarcococca ruscifolia is also known as christmas box or sweet box. Also known as the christmas box, this dwarf, suckering, evergreen shrub forms a neat carpet of glossy green leaves. Sarcococca hookeriana humilis, commonly known as sweet box, is an evergreen that originates in the himalaya mountains. Planted one on the north side of our house, near the front door. Flowering between december and february, the sarcococca hookeriana humilis produces lush, leathery foliage, and. I started new plants from cuttings and seed, from their berries. Xera plants and muchtouted in classic english gardening books, it has. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 9. Few shrubs reach their peak in the middle of winter, but that is precisely when sarcococca ruscifolia begins to shine.
Provides dramatic color and form to autumn and winter landscapes. Alan titchmarshs tips on growing christmas box in your. Suitable for hedges up to 75cm it is an excellent substitute for box, especially if box blight is a problem. Commonly known as the christmas box or sweet box, sarcococca hookeriana humilis is a dense and reliable evergreen shrub which is also incredibly simple. Feb 06, 2018 how to grow roses from cuttings fast and easy rooting rose cuttings with a 2 liter soda bottle duration. Sarcococca confusa sweet box will reach a height of 2m and a spread of 1m after 510 years. How to prune a sarcococca hook humilis know about life. January plant of the month sarcococca gardening tips with. Like box, sarcococca is a shade lover and will do well in those dank, overcast positions that favour box blight.
Sarcococca hookeriana commonly called sweetbox is a lowgrowing, broadleaf evergreen shrub to 5 tall that spreads, albeit slowly, by stolons to 6 wide or more over time in shady areas of the landscape. Technically a small shrub, dwarf sweetbox slowly creeps by means of underground stolons to form a 4. Sarcococca is a genus of 20 small, slowgrowing, shrubby species from southeast asia and the himalayas that are closely related to boxwood. Sarcococca confusa and over other quality seeds for sale. Sweet box sarcococca confusa also known as christmas box is a much undervalued, exquisitely scented small evergreen. Growing sweetbox shrubs is effortless and they can be elegant little standards. It has larger than average leaves, which are a glossy, rich green and highly scented white flowers in winter that are followed by spherical, glossy, red berries that ripen to black. Sarcococca sweet box or christmas box also known as the sweet box or christmas box, these fabulous evergreen shrubs are one of the most underrated. S hookeriana var humilis also suckers and needs to. Christmas box sweet smelling flowers are enough to make us love a plant forever, but sarcococca keeps on giving.
Alan titchmarshs tips on growing christmas box in your garden. Sarcococca hook can be used as a ground cover in areas where a 2foot height is not a problem. Native to the western himalayas, sarcococca is an evergreen shrub that spreads slowly. Plant sarcococca in a place where you can enjoy it. These very useful plants are perfect for ground cover, they spread well and they prefer shade or semishade and will tolerate being underplanted beneath trees and shrubs and in these conditions they will adapt to dry soil. Its extremely tolerant of shade and is therefore perfect for growing in a woodland border or shady corner, where you can enjoy its heady fragrance throughout winter. However, its best claim to fame are its tiny winter blooming flowers that provide an incredible thick, delightful vanillalike fragrance. Sweetly scented, sarcococca confusa sweet box is a terrific, winterflowering, evergreen shrub rich of many qualities. What a simple, beautiful, fragrant evergreen plant. Dwarf sweet box, dwarf christmas box, sarcococca humilis. Buy sweet box sarcococca hookeriana winter gem pmoore03. Christmas box, sarcococca confusa, is a dense, winterflowering evergreen shrub, bearing sweetly scented, pure white blooms, in contrast with dark green leaves. Under a window which you might open on a sunny day. I love the size, glossy leaves, upright growth habiteverything.
Buy sarcococca hookeriana humilis j parker dutch bulbs. Miller botanical garden, recommending outstanding plants for gardeners living west of the cascade mountains from eugene, oregon, usa to vancouver, british columbia, canada. It will however grow in full sun even though the foliage appears to. Sarcococca confusa is a very adaptable and reliable shrub that is easily grown in many situations including dense shade with very dry soil. Sarcococca confusa sweet box christmas box care plant. Humilis very fragrant, dainty white flowers on this dwarf evergreen shrub. Jan 05, 2002 now that box throughout the country has become susceptible to the fungal disease that turns it brown, there is a hunt on to find an evergreen replacement. As grown by a national heritage plant collection holder.
Try to find a spot close to the house for christmas box, or sweet box. Variety hookeriana is very similar but is a more spreading lower growing variety. Pruning these plants is not as hard as you might think. Sarcococca sweetbox shrubs learn how to grow sweetbox plants. Incredible perfume, hardy evergreen leaves and ease of care are all characteristics of sarcococca sweetbox shrubs. Sarcococca hookeriana winter gemchristmas box sweet box plant in 3. Great plant picks is an educational program of the elisabeth c. Commonly known as sweet box or christmas box, this evergreen shrub is a must have for winter borders bringing year round colour, scent and structure. Sarcococca, also known by many as sweet box, is a wonderful, smaller evergreen shrub with glossy green, attractive foliage. The least amount of sun it gets, the better is does. After a while i noticed a lovely fragrance drifting in. Or close to a path to the greenhouse or shed, or near a seating area.
Sarcococca is a genus of 11 species of flowering plants in the box family buxaceae, native to. Mar 03, 2012 day before yesterday was a stunning spring day, warming up to nearly 65 f, so i opened the front door to let fresh air circulate through the screened storm door. Sweet box, christmas box sarcococca humilis my garden life. Sarcococca ruscifolia, commonly called fragrant sweetbox or fragrant sarcococca, is a dense, lowgrowing, sometimes suckering, broadleaf evergreen shrub with a compact habit that typically grows to 34 tall and as wide. Sarcococca sweet box there are two varieties of sarcococca that are commonly grown here in the northwest. Sarcocococca also known as sweet box or christmas box. The polished appearance of the dark green leaves creates a cleanlooking, uniform appearance. Jan 20, 2012 one such valuable winter performer is sarcococca. For a refined and elegant, truly evergreen ground cover, i recommend dwarf sweetbox, sarcococca hookeriana var.
Christmas box sarcococca confusa evergreen fragrant. I have them planted with curly sedge, huckleberry, euphorbia, a huge tree peony and some other things. They gradually form lowgrowing mounds of evergreen foliage. Fragrant white flowers are followed by blueblack fruit. Sarcococca sweet box christmas box kilcannon garden centre. A member of the buxaceae family, its most grown for their sweet honey scented flowers in winter, however this unassuming shrub has a lot of other terrific features. Sweet box for fragrant winter flowers, evergreen leaves, berries for wildlife in shade gardens in portland and vancouver. Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well drained, humusrich soil in deep or partial shade. Now that box throughout the country has become susceptible to the fungal disease that turns it brown, there is a hunt on to find an evergreen replacement. Banks and slopes, cottageinformal, ground cover, low maintenance, resistant to pollution, woodland, foliage only. Genus sarcococca are compact, sometimes suckering evergreen shrubs with simple, leathery leaves.
The dark green leaves are slightly rippled and it is the small white flowers that clothe the stems that produce the rich fragrance. Sweetly fragrant, pinktinged white flowers in early spring are followed by decorative black fruit. How to prune a sarcococca hook humilis home guides sf gate. Christmas box is a smallish evergreen shrub native to asia. Buy sarcococca confusa christmas box plant or sweet box hedging.
Fragrance in the winter is a real bonus to the garden and sarcococca confusa, also known as sweet box, for its fragrance and in the northern hemisphere christmas box, as this is when it flowers in the uk, and it is one of the best plants for winter fragrance it is from the buxaceae family. Also known as christmas box plants, these shrubs are related to standard boxwood plants but offer glossier leaves and unmatched scent in late winter. This species, a member of the buxaceae family is thought to be native to western china. The major attraction of sarcococca is the sweetly fragrant flowers in winter when little else is flowering. Christmas box will tolerate full sun provided that the soil remains moist. Sarcococca hookeriana humilis is commonly know as christmas box and is in the same group as sweet box bushes.
Thinking outside the box life and style the guardian. Sarcococca sweet box collection winter flowering sarcococca collection s confusa s hookeriana christmas box shrubs sterter plants of 23inches 4. Blooms are followed by bright red ornamental fruit. Himalayan box sarcococca hookieriana var humilis growing around the base of. How to grow roses from cuttings fast and easy rooting rose cuttings with a 2 liter soda bottle duration. Sweet smelling flowers are enough to make us love a plant forever, but sarcococca keeps on giving. Alternatively grow sarcococca plants in patio containers using soil based compost such as john innes no.