Plant of the moment Sarcococca

Posted:21 January 2010

Sarcococca – common name, Christmas box or sweet box

What a plant – this evergreen shrub has so much going for it – it is evergreen, fragrant, graceful, good in shade, suitable  for both containers or to grow in the garden border. It has one of the strongest scents in the winter garden and if planted on mass can be quite overpowering in a rather lovely sort of way!

The plant originates from western and central China, and is hardy, tolerating temperatures of -15C.  It is happy in most soils, from acid to alkaline but does need a good feed to do well.  It is ideal for leafy woodland.  It will even tolerate deep shade although will cope in full sun as well, it becomes more open and lax in the shade. They will be fine in dry shade as well, even coping under conifers!

There are a variety of species to choose from, each bringing something special to the garden.

Sarcoccoca confusa is a neat evergreen bush that grows to about 1.2m high, and as much across.  The white tassel-like flowers are arranged along the stem and these are followed by black berries, another added bonus.

Sarcococca ruscifolia is similar but has thicker dark green leaves and produces red berries.  This is a real beauty.

But best of all in my opinion is Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyma.  Definitely worth learning the name! It has a suckering habit but is not invasive. It has narrow medium green leaves with reddish stems; its flowers are larger than the others, with pink on the backs of the petals, and has a fantastic scent.  The cultivar ‘Purple Stem’ has particularly fine purples stems and leafstalks, and even the leaf midribs are flushed with purple.

Definitely a desert island plant for me!