How to grow sarcococca

Choosing a sarcococca

There are several species of this woodland shrub to choose from, most with fragrant white flowers in winter, and preferring similar shady growing conditions. They differ mainly in overall size and shape.

The two most widely available are:

• S. confusa– a glossy-leaved, dense and slowly spreading shrub with white spidery flower clusters, highly scented, followed by black berries. It grows to 1.5–2m (5–6½ft) tall
• S. hookeriana– a suckering shrub with a more upright habit, growing to 1.5m (5ft), it has narrow leaves, fragrant white flowers and black berries. Some of its offspring, such as S. hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’, have purple stems and pink-tinged flowers

You may also find:

• S. ruscifoliaand its cultivar
  

  Gardeners often use the word variety when referring to a specific plant, but the correct botanical term is 'cultivar'. Whichever word you use, it means a distinctive plant or plants, given a specific cultivar name and usually bred to enhance certain characteristics, such as flower or fruit size, colour, flavour or fragrance, plant size, hardiness, disease resistance, etc. Additionally, it is worth knowing that, botanically, variety has another meaning - it refers to a naturally-occurring distinct plant that only has slight differences in its looks. For example, Malva alcea var. fastigiata differs from typical plants by having an upright habit.

  ‘Dragon Gate’ – more compact, up to 1m (3¼ft) tall, with scented white flowers and red berries
• S. orientalis – has fragrant pink-tinged white flowers and black berries, and long, tapered leaves. It has upright growth to 1m (3¼ft)
• S. wallichii– a taller plant, up to 2m (6½ft), but only hardy in mild areas, where temperatures stay reliably above -5°C (23°F)
• S. saligna– hardy in an average winter, but shorter at 1m (3¼ft), with arching stems, willow-like leaves and unscented white flowers

How and what to buy

These shrubs are widely sold in garden centres and by online mail-order suppliers, usually in 2–3L pots. They are available all year round, but there is a better choice in autumn when they will soon be in flower.

To find specific cultivars use the RHS Find a Plant tool for stockists.

RHS guide to buying garden centre plants

RHS guide to buying mail order plants

RHS guide to choosing healthy plants

3 Good reasons to grow Sarcococca (sweet box)

When to plant

Although they can be planted all year round, shrubs establish best when planted in spring or autumn.

Where to plant

• Sarcococcas like rich, moisture-retentive soil, but will tolerate dry shade once established
• They prefer partial or full shade. They can cope in sun, but only if they have plenty of moisture too
• Although most of the commonly available sarcococcas are hardy, it is best to position them out of drying winds
• They can also be planted in containers

How to plant

• Sarcococcas are easy to plant in the ground or in containers – simply follow our guide to planting shrubs, below
• If you have dry, poor soil, improve it with well-rotted organic matter such as farmyard manure or garden compost before planting, and mulch the surface afterwards with a 5cm (2in) layer
• Space plants according to the advice on the plant label

RHS guide to planting shrubs

RHS guide to planting in containers

Little routine care is required once plants are established, although suckering species can be divided every few years if overcrowded (see Propagating below).

Watering

• For the first couple of seasons after planting, water well during dry spells, aiming to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Once well established, no additional watering should be necessary
• Plants in containers need watering regularly on an ongoing basis, as they dry out more quickly due to the limited amount of compost
  

  Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost:

  
  • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

  . See our guide to container maintenance

Tips on recycling and collecting water

Feeding

• If your plant needs a boost, feed in early spring with a general-purpose fertiliser such as Growmore or fish, blood and bone
• Particularly in dry locations, plants will benefit from an annual mulch. Apply well-rotted farmyard manure or garden compost to damp soil around the plant, in a 5cm (2in) thick layer

How and what to feed plants

RHS guide to routine shrub maintenance

As sarcococcas are low-growing shrubs, they don’t generally need pruning. But if a plant gets too large for its space, you can prune in spring after flowering.

RHS guide to pruning shrubs

By division

When plants are large enough to divide, you can separate suckers and either replant in the ground or into a container filled with soil-based compost

Soil-based compost is a potting compost that includes sterilised soil/loam in the mix. As loam contains sand, silt and clay, it does not rot down like organic materials, so adding soil/loam to compost ensures it is longer lasting – it is often used for shrubs in pots and will last 3–4 years without the need to be replaced.

, such as John Innes No 2 or Melcourt Sylvagrow. Early spring is best, before active growth begins. New roots will grow quickly in the warming soil. Water regularly during the first season.

By seeds and cuttings

For easy but less speedy results, you can also:

• Sow seeds from species in autumn
• Take nodal greenwood cuttings in spring, or semi-ripe cuttings later in the season

These tough, resilient shrubs are generally untroubled by pests and diseases.

If you're a member of the RHS, you can register and use our online Gardening Advice service via MyRHS on the RHS website.