Sarcococca

( sar - koe - KOCK - uh)

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of evergreen shrubs is commonly called Sweet Box or Christmas Box, and needs partial to full shade and moderate to regular water. Small white flowers are almost hidden under evergreen leaves, and are very fragrant, usually blooming in wintertime. These shrubs are native to the Himalayan Mountains, as well as eastern and southeastern Asia. Sweet Box is great under eaves, in entryways, and under low-branching evergreen trees. They have a polished, elegant appearance and glossy foliage.

Sarcococca Species and Varietals

The genus Sarcococca includes 11 species and is a member of the plant family Buxaceae. The genus name is derived from the Greek words for 'fleshy' (sarx) and 'berry' (kokkos). Sweet Box grows best in zones 4-9 and 14-24, though this varies depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Scarcococca confusa
Sometimes sold as Scarcococca ruscifolia. This species reaches 4-6 feet tall and 3-7 feet wide, with a naturally occurring espalier habit. Leaves are oval to elliptical and green, fruit is black.

Scarcococca hookeriana humilis (Sarcococca humilis)
Best in 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.

Sarcococca ruscifolia
Slowly reaches 4-6 feet tall and 3-7 feet wide, with a natural espalier habit (if grown against a wall or fence). Fruit is red, and leaves are green and ovular.

Caring for and pruning sarcococca shrubs

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. Sweet Box can be grown in sun if the climate stays relatively cool during the summer months; otherwise they prefer to be planted in at least partial shade. Soil should be well-draining and organically rich with a lot of humus. Water regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist, especially during the drier months of the year. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely in between waterings. Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plant to increase soil moisture retention and suppress weed growth. These shrubs do not need much in the way of feedings, but if they are struggling they may benefit from a feeding of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in springtime. Most of the time, however, these plants thrive without fertilizations, especially if the soil has been amended with plenty of organic material prior to planting. 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. Pruning is best completed right after flowering fades in late winter or early springtime.

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
  1. 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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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
  1. 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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your 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 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  3. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. 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 (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Sarcococca seeds are contained in the fruits produced by these plants.
Sarcococca seeds.

Problems and Pests

Sarcococca shrubs are generally pest and disease-resistant, but they can occasionally suffer from the following issues:
  • Scale
  • Aphids
Monitor your plants for any of the above issues, and consult the links below if you need any further information:
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Gallery

Dwarf varieties of Sweet Box are wonderful for edging walkways.
The fragrant flowers resemble those on Fringe Flower shrubs.
The glossy leaves of Sweet Box shrubs stand out, even in monochrome areas of the garden.

Videos

All about Sarcococca shrubs.
Check out this comprehensive guide for growing and caring for Sweet Box.
How to identify Sweet Box shrubs.
Why should you grow these evergreen shrubs in your garden?

Resources

Sarcococca Sweetbox Shrubs - Learn How to Grow Sweetbox Plants
Sarcococca Growing Guide
How to Grow Sarcococca
Wikipedia: Sarcococca
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 591 - 592, Sarcococca
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