Sarcococca - Sweet Box

The Sarcococca or Sweet Box gives gardeners another shrub option for the shade garden. This low growing, ground cover shrub is native to the western Himalayas and China and is a relative of the well known boxwood. Because of this, it has good deer resistance. The glossy, dark green foliage is evergreen and is a perfect backdrop to the numerous thin tubular bloom clusters that resemble fireworks. Not only are these blooms attractive, but they are fragrant as well, drawing early pollinators to them in either late winter or early spring depending on the zone. Typically hardy in zones 6-8, newer cultivars have increased that hardiness to zones 5-9. Sweet Box requires moist, acidic soil and prefers full to part shade. It is even tolerant of heavy shade making it a great selection for the woodland garden. The ground cover habit of the Sarcococca comes from the light suckering growth that is produced as it spreads. This can be kept in check by pruning out the unwanted stems in early spring, keeping in mind that any other pruning to shape should be done after blooming as it flowers off of old wood. The Sweet Box is not only suited to the woodland garden, but makes a great container specimen or used as a low hedge.

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