Sarcococca

( sar - koe - KOCK - uh)

At-A-Glance Information

This genus includes species of evergreen shrubs commonly called Sweet Box or Christmas Box which need partial to full shade and moderate to regular water to perform well in the landscape. Small white feathery flowers are almost hidden under evergreen leaves and are very fragrant, usually blooming in wintertime. These shrubs are mainly native to the Himalayan Mountains, eastern and southeastern Asia and Taiwan, with a small disjunct region spanning from Mexico down through Guatemala. These shrubs have a polished, elegant appearance and glossy foliage. Sweet Box is great under eaves, in entryways, and under low-branching evergreen trees. They can also serve as shady groundcovers, hedges, erosion control, or be grown in containers on patios or walkways where their fragrance can be enjoyed regularly. Take care when planting these shrubs in the garden, as plant parts are considered mildly toxic if ingested by humans or pets.

Sarcococca Species and Varietals

The genus Sarcococca includes 11 species and is a member of the plant family Buxaceae. The plants in this genus are closely related to those in Buxus (Boxwood) and Pachysandra (Spurge). The genus name is derived from the Greek words for 'fleshy' (sarx) and 'berry' (kokkos). Sweet Box grows best in USDA hardiness zones 6-9 or Sunset growing zones 4-9 and 14-24, though this varies depending on the species cultivated. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Scarcococca confusa (Sweet Box, Christmas Box, Fragrant Sarcococca, Confused Sweet Box, Beautiful Wild Fan Flower, Měilì Yě Shàn Huā, 美丽野扇花, Black-Fruited Wild Fan Flower, Hēiguǒ Yě Shàn Huā, 黑果野扇花)
Sometimes sold under Scarcococca ruscifolia, this species reaches 4-6 feet tall and 3-7 feet wide at maturity, with a naturally-occurring espalier habit. Leaves are oval to elliptical and green and ripe fruit is black. Flowers are honey-scented and bloom in wintertime. This species is native to China, where it grows in shady forested woodlands.

Scarcococca hookeriana (Sarcococca humilis) (Himalayan Sweet Box, Sweet Box, Christmas Box, Dwarf Sweet Box, Himalayan Sarcococca, Yǔ Mài Yě Shàn Huā, 羽脉野扇花, Hue Shing, Chile Kath, चिल्ले काठ, Telparo, तेलपारो, Indian Paper Plant)
Best in USDA hardiness zones 5-9 or zones 3-9 and 14-24, this species of Sweet Box is a low-grower, reaching 1.5 feet tall and spreading to 8 feet or more wide. Leaves are pointed, and fruit is glossy and bluish black. This species makes a great groundcover, and is native to Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, and Nepal. Cultivars include 'Purple Stem' (with striking red-purple stems), 'Winter Gem' (compact to 2-3 feet tall and wide with white flowers blooming from red buds), 'Fragrant Valley' (good in heavy shade, to 18-24 inches tall and 3 feet wide).

Sarcococca ruscifolia (Fragrant Sweet Box, Fragrant Sarcococca, Red-Berried Sweet Box, Ruscus-Leaved Sweetbox, Wild Fan Flower, Yě Shàn Huā, 野扇花)
This species is native to China and slowly reaches 4-6 feet tall and 3-7 feet wide, with a natural espalier habit. Flowers are white, fruit is red and leaves are green. These plants are hardy down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, and prefer a spot in the landscape that is sheltered in full or partial shade. This species is suited for growing in USDA hardiness zones 7-9. Cultivars include 'Dragon Gate' (with intensely fragrant, abundant white flowers followed by red berries) and 'Chapmanii' (compact to 2-4 feet tall and wide).

Caring for sarcococca

Take care when planting these shrubs in the garden, as plant parts are considered mildly toxic if ingested by humans or pets. Plant your shrub in partial shade to full shade; areas underneath trees or in shaded corners of the garden are usually ideal for these shrubs. These plants will struggle if exposed to direct sunlight, especially in the afternoon, and leaves will sunburn and become pale. Ensure that soil is well-draining with good humus content, is rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 5.0 and 6.5 (acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants perform well in consistently moist soils; do not allow soil to dry out in between waterings.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is not necessary most of the time for these shrubs; they will usually maintain a neat, compact shape. However, Sweet Box shrubs can be lightly trimmed to maintain their form and remove any dead or diseased branches. Cut any wayward stems back to the ground or an outward-facing side branch. Pruning is best completed right after flowering fades in late winter or early springtime. These shrubs bloom on old wood, so pruning in this way ensures that the next season's fragrant winter flower buds will not be cut off of the plant. Sarcococca shrubs can be expected to survive in the landscape for a few decades or more before needing to be replaced if cared for properly. Many species will slowly spread outward via suckers, providing new plants indefinitely for the landscape.

Caring for Sarcococca in Containers
Sarcococca shrubs are wonderful in the ground, but can also be grown in containers. Choose a container that is at least a few inches wider and deeper than the nursery pot or root ball. Ensure that the pot has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly as the plant establishes itself in its new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Sarcococca, or Sweet Box, plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot.

Propagation

Sarcococca can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Sarcococca by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Sarcococca by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest Sarcococca fruits in summer or fall (typically between June and October). They should have attained their full mature color, which can be red or black depending on the species cultivated. Remove ripe, plump berries and squash them to extract the small seeds. Rinse the seeds under cool water to remove any remaining flesh and lay them out. They are best sown fresh and lose viability very quickly in storage.
Sarcococca seeds will need a period of cold stratification to germinate that mimics their natural growing conditions. To complete this process, first place seeds in a bag or other sealable container filled with moistened sand or peat moss. Then, place the container in the refrigerator (or similarly cool, dark space) for 2-3 months. The ideal temperature for cold-stratification is around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. After this period has passed, remove seeds from the container to sow them.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place seeds in the prepared pot or seed tray about 3/8 inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water. Place the tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes a few months to a year from sowing.
After the seedling has sprouted and grown its first few sets of true leaves, it can be transplanted into its own pot.
Keep the potting medium moist but not wet and place in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the shrub can be planted out the following early spring or early fall.

Sarcococca berries are ripe in summer and fall, and each contain between 1 and 3 seeds.

Sarcococca seeds are plump, rounded to slightly angular, and dark brown. They have a hard seed coat that requires cold stratification to break dormancy.