Sweetbox Plant

Sweetbox plant

It slowly forms a nice evergreen mat, spreading by underground roots. Plants grown from cuttings can vary in mature size — typical growth is around 10-12” tall x 2-3' wide, but plants can grow as tall as 2-3'. Recently new varieties have been release that are more uniform in their habits.

Is fragrant sweet box invasive?

It's small, white tubular fragrant flowers blossom start flowering in the beginning of the year and into the spring. Their showy, shiny black berries are attractive and linger on the plants. Plants slowly spread through underground suckers, but not considered invasive.

Is Sweetbox an evergreen?

Sweetly scented, Sarcococca confusa (Sweet Box) is a terrific, winter-flowering, evergreen shrub rich in many qualities.

How fast does sweet box grow?

Size and Growth The plant typically reaches about 7′ feet tall and 3′ feet wide. It may take about five to seven years for sarcococca confusa to reach its full height.

Does sweet box spread?

This tough, evergreen, woody ground cover (to 16" tall) can quickly spread by underground stems to form dense weed-blocking mats.

Does sweet box need full sun?

They can tolerate sites in full sun, providing the soil is kept damp. They prefer a humus-rich, moderately fertile, moist, but well-drained soil that doesn't dry out in summer.

Is Sarcococca poisonous to dogs?

Is Sarcococca confusa poisonous? Sarcococca confusa has no toxic effects reported.

Will sweet box grow in shade?

It will grow on virtually any soil provided it is not too dry, and will tolerate drier soils in very shady conditions. It will even tolerate neglect, making it an easy garden shrub.

Can you shape sweet box?

It can be clipped into topiary shapes as an alternative to common box (Buxus sempervirens).

Is Sarcococca invasive?

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.

Will Sarcococca grow in full sun?

Sarcococca are best planted in moist, well-drained soil of chalk, clay, sand or loam within an acidic, alkaline or neutral PH balance. These shrubs are best positioned in full shade or part shade, although full sun will be tolerated if placed in exceedingly damp soil.

Is Sarcococca frost hardy?

Most species of Sarcococca are fully frost hardy, S. saligna a little less so, and all are tolerant of neglect and dry shady conditions. There is no need to prune Sarcococca at all.

How do you care for sweet box?

Choose a full shade location where soil drains freely. They will even thrive under trees where lighting can be minimal. Soil should percolate well and yet be rich in organic matter and kept moist. If soil is properly nutrient rich, you rarely have to fertilize this plant.

Are sweet box berries edible?

The flowering period is usually 4 to 5 weeks. Berries for all types are not usually listed as poisonous, but are not recommended for consumption; in fact, even most birds ignore them and they persist after flowering long into the spring.

How do you prune a sweet box shrub?

Despite its common name and close relationship, Sweet Box can't be treated like regular boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) and be sheared on a regular basis. To keep the size and shape in check, prune only the tall forms and prune shortly after they've finished blooming (March-April).

What does Sarcococca smell like?

The sweet honey-like fragrance of this lovely evergreen shrub announces its presence well before you see it. Commonly known as Christmas or sweet box, the delicate creamy-white flowers of sarcococca appear from December to March.

When can I prune sweet box?

Garden care: In late winter or early spring lightly trim or prune back shoots that spoil the plant's symmetry. After pruning apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted compost around the base of the plant.

Which Sarcococca is most fragrant?

One of the most fragrant of varieties is Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis. A wonderful plant for creating a thicket instead of growing as a single shrub, it has a narrow leaf, the tiniest of all the flowers and stays a little bit smaller than the other Sarcococca.

Why are the leaves on my Sarcococca turning yellow?

The reasons are usually nutrient deficiency, wet or poor soils. In garden plants the yellowing is often accompanied by poor flowering and fruiting and stunted growth in extreme cases.

Do birds like Sarcococca?

The evergreen, tapered foliage looks good in a vase, and the strange, thin white flowers last long enough to be enjoyed inside. Then come the big berries that the birds enjoy. The most common is Sarcococca confusa, a dense, low-maintenance bush.