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Sarcococca ruscifolia var. chinensis 'Dragon Gate'

Chinese fragrant sweet box 'Dragon Gate'

AGM plants

AGM plants have been through a rigorous trial and assessment programme. They are:

  • Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions
  • Available to buy
  • Of good constitution
  • Essentially stable in form & colour
  • Reasonably resistant to pests & diseases
© RHS
Sold by 25 nurseries

  • Other common names Chinese fragrant sweet box 'Dragon Gate'

  • Synonyms Sarcococca ruscifolia 'Dragon Gate'
    Sarcococca 'Dragon Gate'

    Sarcococca 'Roy Lancaster'

    see more

  • Family Buxaceae

  • Genus Sarcococca are compact, sometimes suckering evergreen shrubs with simple, leathery leaves and tiny, fragrant creamy-white flowers in winter or spring, followed by red, purple or black berries which may persist into the following winter

  • Details 'Dragon Gate' is a compact shrub bearing small, scented, cream flowers in winter followed by red berries in summer. Evergreen leaves are small, glossy and dark green

Characteristics

  • Foliage Evergreen

  • Habit Bushy

  • Fragrance Flower

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H5

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Shade

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect South-facing or North-facing or West-facing or East-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Sand

    Sand

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained

  • SoilChalk, Clay, Sand, Loam

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 0.5-1 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0.5-1 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 5-10 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grows best in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained humus-rich soil in shade. Full sun may be tolerated when planted in damp soil. Also tolerant of atmospheric pollution, dry shade and neglect

Propagation Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer or propagate by seed sown in containers outdoors in autumn or spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types Ground Cover Banks and Slopes Low Maintenance Cottage & Informal Garden

How to care

Pruning Pruning group 8

Pests Generally pest free

Diseases Generally disease free

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