Fragrant Sweet Box (Sarcococca Ruscifolia) – 3 Gallon Pot

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A beautiful and fragrant evergreen flowering shrub for shady areas, Sarcococca ruscifolia, commonly called Fragrant Sweet Box, is adored for its highly fragrant dainty white flowers that come in abundance during the dead of winter, when they open to release their delightful sweet vanilla perfume. Following the flowers are attractive red berries that turn black over the summer. A compact shrub that typically grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide tall and clothed in glossy deep green pointed leaves, this year round evergreen and cool season charmer thrives in shade and tolerates dry shade once it is established.

Growing in a somewhat dense mound with arching stems 3 to 4 feet tall with an equal spread, the Fragrant Sweet Box is an ideal evergreen for shade or woodland gardens. It is also 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 vanilla fragrance of the flowers can be enjoyed from close up.

If you’re looking to create a theme garden, Fragrant 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: 3 feet apart for hedges; 6 feet or more apart for space between plants

Note:  For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a, where Fragrant 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 Fragrant 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.