I’ve just been stopped in my tracks by the delicious scent of Sarcococca hookeriana (aka Chrismas box, Sweet Box) in my garden. It’s a small slow-growing evergreen shrub with delicate pointed green glossy leaves that likes to grow in shade or semi-shade. It’s even happy growing under trees in dry shade.
In January , this plant produces unassuming small fluffy white flowers which are packed with such a strong and fragrant perfume that no garden should be without them in winter time.
Sarcococca confusa (above) is very similar in shape and habitat, but has rounder and slightly darker leaves than S.hookeriana. Both plants should be widely available at this time of year in all good garden centres and nurseries and if you have a shady place to fill in your garden, then this could be the perfect plant for you.
P.S. You can read about plants supplying year round scent here
[...] just spent the morning working in a client’s garden that was packed full of Sarcococcas (Christmas or sweet box). The perfume was intoxicating, mesmerizing even, and it just got me [...]
Hi my Sarcococcas is going yellow any idea why ?
Doesn’t sound very happy. Where is Sarcococca planted? Likes a bit of shade and can tolerate dry soil, but try some liquid seaweed feed and mulch with compost. I planted some rather pot-bound specimens a year ago. They looked rather yellowish too, but a year on, and now settled in the soil, they’re looking and smelling rather gorgeous. Hope this helps. Naomi
[...] a more positive note, my Sarcococca hookeriana is blasting out the most gorgeous of winter scents, and (just about) making up for the loss of my [...]