Confused Sweet Box (Sarcococca Confusa) – 1 Gallon Pot

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The Confused Sweet Box, sometimes commonly referred to as “Christmas Box,” is a wonderful, slow to moderate growing evergreen shrub with exceptional toughness and durability, making it a very easy to grow plant. It features small, white, deliciously fragrant flowers from mid winter to early spring, followed by showy, glossy black fruit on mounding plants clothed with glossy, wavy, dark green leaves. Sarcococca x confusa has never been seen in the wild and is most likely a hybrid. A great, totally underused plant for shade with exceptional drought and air pollution tolerance when established. It also has very good resistance to pests and disease. Perfect for use under large shade trees, they are also a great groundcover.  What more could we ask for in a shrub!

Growing in a somewhat dense mound with arching stems 3 to 5 feet tall with an equal spread, the Confused Sweetbox is an ideal evergreen for shade or woodland gardens. It also is a perfect choice in shady home foundation plantings or as a specimen in smaller garden spaces or containers. In woodland gardens it serves well as a specimen, in groupings, or as a natural, low hedge and is perfect for growing under large trees where not much else will grow. Plant near outdoor living and sitting spaces so the sweet fragrance of the flowers can be enjoyed from close up.

If you’re looking to create a theme garden, Confused Sweet Box is ideal selection for sensory gardens. Other suitable theme gardens are Asian, container, cottage, fragrance, perennial, rock, xeriscape (low water needs) and around water gardens.

Spacing:  2-3′ for hedges,  6’+ for space between plants

Note:  For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b, where Confused Sweet Box is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring. 

The Confused Sweet Box is easy to grow when planted right and in the right spot. It adapts to most soil types, preferring a well-drained moist, acid or alkaline soil, and likes shade or partial shade. Morning sun is tolerated well. It is quite drought tolerant when established. As with many other plants, a constantly soggy or wet soil can be problematic. 

Note:  Find helpful advice from our experts under the Planting & Care tab above on desktop monitors or below on mobile devices.