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    • Photo of Sarcococca ruscifolia by Grace Peterson

    Photo by Grace Peterson

    Used with permission, all rights reserved.

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    Buy Sarcococca ruscifolia

    Also Known As

    • Fragrant Sweet Box
    • Fragrant Sweetbox
    • Sweet Box

    Plant type

    shrub

    size

    • H: 3'-6'
    • W: 3'-5'

    planting zones

    • 5a-10b

    3.5" | $17

    Ships USPS, based on weight/location

    Fewer than 11 at Secret Garden Growers

    1 gallon | $39

    Buy button links to nursery site for checkout

    Fewer than 9 at Forestfarm

    More Options

    Sarcococca ruscifolia plant details

    Sarcococca ruscifolia is a slow-growing broadleaf evergreen shrub with green foliage. In spring and winter white flowers emerge followed by black and red fruit. Features glossy texture. Attracts bees and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with bright shade - shade and regular - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in average, clay, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant, humidity tolerant and pollution tolerant.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Sarcococca ruscifolia

    Plant type: shrub
    Plant family: buxaceae
    Foliage: evergreen green
    Mature size: 3 FT - 5 FT - wide, 3 FT - 6 FT - tall
    Flowers: white blooms in spring and winter
    Uses: border plant, container plant, espalier, fragrant, hedge, mounding, sandalwood-scented, vanilla-scented, winter interest, woodland garden, year round interest

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Sarcococca ruscifolia

    USDA Zones: 5a - 10b
    Sun exposure: bright shade - shade
    Watering frequency: regular - low
    Resistant to: deer, rabbit and snail / slug, heat, humidity and pollution
    Soil needs: average, clay, rich and well-drained

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    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    Sarcococca ruscifolia is a tall and elegant occasionally suckering sweet box with dark green, leathery, shiny, somewhat twisted, evergreen leaves atop arching stems to 3-4 ft. tall. In late winter and early spring small, white, feathery, extremely fragrant flowers are produced along the stems followed later by dark red to black berries. Use as an informal hedge or for evergreen accents in the garden where you can enjoy the winter fragrance.

    By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

    Has amazing fragrant small white flowers. But let your nose guide you to this attractive evergreen. The plants will get 3'-4'x 5' across and in January will be covered with small white flowers followed by black fruit.

    By: Gossler Farms

    The tiny, creamy-white, early-spring flowers, although very cute, are not very showy. The blooms are, however, incredibly vanilla-sweet fragrant and always an unexpected joy in early-spring. The thick emerald-green glossy, evergreen foliage and pretty pinky-red fruits which ripen to black are also attractive on this slow-growing 3-4' shrub for shade; gorgeous as a woodland specimen or hedge. Sh-PSh/M

    By: Forestfarm

    Glossy deep green smallish leaves are evergreen on arching branches forming a mounding shrub 3-5' high and wide. Tiny fragrant white flowers perfume the air January > March with sweet vanilla laced with sandalwood (a winter treat for the nose!). Prefers rich organic soil, but tolerates clay and even dry shade! Protect from hot afternoon sun…takes moderate shade.

    By: Secret Garden Growers

    Fragrant Sweetbox is a small evergreen shrub that is right at home in shady situations. Small white flowers dangle beneath the stems in winter and are extremely fragrant. An aristocrat for the shade garden. Awards: Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.

    By: Fantastic Plants

    White fragrant, vanilla flowers February, red berries, evergreen, slightly arching branches . USDA zones 7-9.

    By: Lael's Moon Garden

    Wonderful fragrance in the winter, excellent dark green foliage for deep shade and red fruit! What's not to like!

    By: Specialty Ornamentals

    Evergreen shrub, to 4-6 ft, quietly fills an empty spot in part to dense shade and bursts forth in winter with a remarkably sweet fragrance from an abundance of small, white, thread-like flowers. Red berries turn black and remain through summer. Branches root easily providing more plants for more winter fragrance. Regular summer water. Frost hardy in USDA zone 7.

    By: Cistus Nursery

    Gardening facts about Sarcococca ruscifolia plant

    How to Grow Sarcococca ruscifolia

    • Sun Exposure

      • bright shade - shade

    • Water Needs

      • regular - drought tolerant

    • Soil Needs

      • clay
      • adaptable
      • average
      • well-drained
      • rich

    • Special Situation

      • heat tolerant
      • humidity tolerant
      • pollution tolerant

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Flower Color

      • white

    • Wildlife

      • bees
      • hummingbirds
      • deer resistant
      • snail / slug resistant
      • rabbit resistant

    • Fruit

      • red
      • black

    • Flower Season

      • spring
      • winter

    • Foliage Season

      • evergreen

    • Texture

      • glossy

    See other plant types of Sarcococca for your garden

    Sarcococca ruscifolia 'Dragon Gate'

    aka Sarcococca ruscifolia var. chinensis 'Dragon Gate'

    Plant Type

    Shrub

    Zones

    7a-10b

    Size

    Height: 3'-4'

    Width: 3'-5'

    • sun - shade
    • regular - drought tolerant
    Photo of Sarcococca ruscifolia 'Dragon Gate' fruit by Cistus Nursery
    View Plant

    Sarcococca vagans [BSWJ 7285]

    aka Sarcococca balansae, Sarcococca balansae [BSWJ 7285], Sarcococca vanas, Sweet Box

    Plant Type

    Shrub

    Zones

    8b-10b

    Size

    Height: 5'-6'

    Width: 5'-6'

    • sun - shade
    • even moisture - occasional
    Photo of Sarcococca vagans [BSWJ 7285] foliage by Cistus Nursery
    View Plant

    Sarcococca orientalis

    aka Chinese Sweetbox

    Plant Type

    Shrub

    Zones

    6a-10b

    Size

    Height: 3'-5'

    Width: 3'-7'

    • bright shade - shade
    • even moisture - occasional
    Photo of Sarcococca orientalis foliage by Karl Gercens III
    View Plant

    More Options

    Sarcococca saligna

    aka Sarcococca salicifolia, Sweet Box, Sweet Box

    Plant Type

    Shrub

    Zones

    8a-10b

    Size

    Height: 4'-5'

    Width: 4'-6'

    • sun - shade
    • regular - occasional
    Photo of Sarcococca saligna foliage by Karl Gercens III
    View Plant

    Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna [Purple Stem]

    aka Sarcococca 'Digyna', Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna 'Purple Stem', Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis [Purple Stem], Dwarf Purple Stem Sweetbox, Purple Stem Sweet Box

    Plant Type

    Shrub, Groundcover

    Zones

    6a-9b

    Size

    Height: 2'-3'

    Width: 2'-3'

    • bright shade - shade
    • even moisture - occasional
    Photo of Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna [Purple Stem] flower, foliage, stem by peganum
    View Plant

    More Options

    +9 more Sarcococca
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