Introducing...
Sarcococca
Common name: Sweet box
Known for their sweetly scented winter flowers and glossy evergreen foliage, sarcococcas may not steal the show, but they lift the spirits during the short days of winter.
Plant them by a path or doorway so you catch the fragrance, and mix them with companionable winter flowers like hellebores and snowdrops. They're also useful in dry shade under trees.
Looks
Sarcococca are bushy evergreen shrubs with glossy, dark green leaves. In winter, they produce small but highly fragrant, creamy-white flowers (some flushed pink), followed by black, purple or red berries.
Likes
A good choice for shady spots and happy in dry conditions once established.
Dislikes
The leaves can become yellow or pale and peaky in very dry situations or in full sun.
Did you know?
Sarcococca is in the box family (Buxaceae), so plants can be used as a lightly clipped, informal hedge in a shady spot.
Growing guide
How to grow sarcococca
All the information you need to grow and care for sarcococcas in your garden
Sarcococca we recommend
Parodia magnifica
magnificent ball cactus
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Agave americana 'Mediopicta' (v)
century plant 'Mediopicta'
- 1–1.5 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Lithops karasmontana
Karas Mountains living stone
- Up to 10cm
- 0–0.1 metre
Ferocactus glaucescens
glaucous barrel cactus
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Parodia magnifica
magnificent ball cactus
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Agave americana 'Mediopicta' (v)
century plant 'Mediopicta'
- 1–1.5 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Lithops karasmontana
Karas Mountains living stone
- Up to 10cm
- 0–0.1 metre
Ferocactus glaucescens
glaucous barrel cactus
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Useful advice
Watering
Trees and shrubs: establishment problems
Trees and shrubs: planting
How to prune a tree
Buying: trees and shrubs
Trees near buildings
Trees for smaller gardens
Get involved
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