Oriental Fragrant Sweet Box (Sarcococca) – 1 Gallon Pot

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As its name suggests, Sarcococca orientalis, commonly known as Oriental Sweet Box or Christmas, is an attractive winter-blooming evergreen flowering shrub native to the Orient that is sure to sweeten up the landscape from mid-winter to early spring with clusters of incredibly fragrant, tubular white flowers that smell like Hyacinths, appearing from January through March in our gardens. Following the flowers are glossy black berries about the size of a blueberry. The berries remain on the plant through the following bloom season, so that both berries and flowers are present simultaneously. A relatively fast grower, it forms a dense shrub up to 5 feet tall and 7 feet wide in 8 years, growing a couple of feet wider over time, which makes it great for planting as a specimen, grouping, or natural hedge in shade gardens, landscape, and woodland borders or home fountain plantings. Plant it near patios and outdoor seating areas where the fragrance can be enjoyed up close. Oriental Sweet Box thrives in deep to partial shade, even in drier conditions under shade trees, and is one of those shrubs that will always have you anticipating its winter bloom. 

Growing in a dense, rounded mound about 5 feet tall and 9 feet wide over time, the Oriental Sweet Box is ideal for use as a specimen, grouping, border, or natural hedge in shady landscape and woodland borders and home foundation plantings. It is excellent near patios, porches, and other outdoor sitting areas where its heavenly fragrance can be enjoyed up close. It can also be grown in larger pots, planters, and other containers. In our gardens, it thrives in the shade under the canopies of large shade trees, where not much else will grow. It is a fine addition to woodland gardens, fragrance gardens, rock gardens, cottage gardens, Asian gardens, and xeric gardens (low water needs).

Spacing:  4 to 5 feet for hedges, 9’+ for space between plants

The Oriental Fragrant Sweet Box is very easy to grow in moist, well-drained, acidic soil with average or better fertility, and in part shade to full, deep shade. Morning and evening sun are okay, but avoid the direct afternoon sun. Established plants are highly drought-tolerant and thrive in dry, shaded areas. Constantly soggy or wet soil can be problematic. It does not require pruning, but will respond well to it for shaping purposes. Prune after flowering in spring.

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