Sarcococca confusa

About this cultivar:

Sarcococca confusa is also known as Sweet Box or Christmas Box. This evergreen shrub captivates with its unassuming charm and versatile presence.

In the shady corners of your garden, Sarcococca confusa emerges as a reliable companion, thriving in dappled sunlight or even deep shade. Its glossy, dark green leaves create a lush backdrop, forming a dense, bushy mound that gracefully fills the space it occupies. The true magic of Sarcococca confusa reveals itself in winter when clusters of tiny, fragrant white flowers adorn its branches in late winter and early spring. These are follwoed by bright black berries.

As the frost settles, the air becomes infused with a sweet, intoxicating fragrance, making it a delightful surprise during the colder months - hence the moniker 'Christmas Box'.

Whether planted as a solitary specimen or as part of a mixed border, Sarcococca confusa contributes an enduring allure to any garden. The Royal Horticultural Society agrees and they have awarded it their Award of Garden Merit.

• Position: Full sun, partial shade
• Soil: Almost any soil, grows well in Ballyrobert
• Flowers: February, March, April
• Other features: Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (RHS AGM), Scented
• Hardiness: Fully hardy, grows well in Ballyrobert
• Habit: Bushy
• Foliage: Evergreen
• Height: 120 - 200cm (3 - 6ft)
• Spread: 60 - 100cm (2 - 3.5ft)
• Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
• Plant type: Shrub
• Colour: Green, white
• Goes well with: Hosta, Heuchera, Ajuga, or Hellebores for an attractive shade garden bed

About this genus:

Sarcococca is a genus of 20 small, slow-growing, shrubby species from southeast Asia and the Himalayas that are closely related to boxwood. The major attraction of Sarcococca is the sweetly fragrant flowers in winter when little else is flowering. With such a sweet scent, you might expect that Sarcococca flowers are showy, but they are actually teeny tiny...almost unnoticeable. The flowers are often followed by gladdening glossy black berries

Ideal for those who seek low-maintenance yet sophisticated additions to their garden, Sarcococca requires minimal care once established. Its adaptable nature allows it to thrive in a variety of soil conditions, and its moderate growth rate ensures a harmonious integration into your landscape.

Sarcococca is fairly slow growing. A shade-to-part-shade plant, but will tolerate what these islands call 'full sun'. Try pairing Sarcococca with Hosta, Heuchera, Ajuga, or Hellebores for an attractive shade garden bed.