Fragrant Sweet Box
Sarcococca ruscifolia
Beautiful shrub for shady areas! White flowers are small, but very fragrant. Followed by bright red fruit. Forms natural espalier against wall. Useful in areas where others won't grow! Evergreen.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | sar-ko-KOHK-a rus-si-FOH-li-a |
| Key feature: | Deer Resistant |
| Plant type: | Shrub |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 7 - 9 |
| Light needs: | Full shade |
| Water Needs: | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Average landscape size: | Slow grower to 3 to 5 ft. tall and wide. |
| Growth rate: | Slow |
| Flower attribute: | Fragrant |
| Special features: | Deer Resistant, Improved Pest and Disease Resistance, Showy Fruit |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Espalier, Hedge, Woodland Garden |
| Flower color: | White |
| Blooms: | Early spring |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 7051 |
| Retailers for this plant: |
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. For a tidy, neat appearance, shear annually to shape. Pruning time: spring after flowering.
Design Ideas
Fragrance makes this an important shrub around windows, doors and outdoor living areas. Evergreen foliage is also ideal for covering up footings, vents, utilities and other unsightly spots around foundation planting. Deep green foliage is an exceptional background for artistic elements or intensely colored perennials. A great choice for shaded areas between buildings or where influence of large old shade or street trees limit plant choices to shade tolerant species.
Companion Plants
Group this dark fragrant shrub with brigher shade garden dwellers such as Buttons 'N Bows Hydrangea, (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Monrey'), Cherry Berry Plantain Lily, (Hosta x 'Cherry Berry'), Stoplight Foamy Bells, (x Heucherella 'Spotlight') and Golden Japanese Forest Grass, (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola').
History
This species is native to the Himalayas of China, grouped into the boxwood family. It was introduced by Hooker rather late after he returned from a collecting trip in 1901.
Lore
The fact that this species is polyembryonic, with up to seven embryos in one seed. It was first thought to be the result of atomic bomb radiation, but was proved later that the anomaly began before 1923 and therefore was a natural mutation.
Beautiful shrub for shady areas! White flowers are small, but very fragrant. Followed by bright red fruit. Forms natural espalier against wall. Useful in areas where others won't grow! Evergreen.
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. For a tidy, neat appearance, shear annually to shape. Pruning time: spring after flowering.
Design Ideas
Fragrance makes this an important shrub around windows, doors and outdoor living areas. Evergreen foliage is also ideal for covering up footings, vents, utilities and other unsightly spots around foundation planting. Deep green foliage is an exceptional background for artistic elements or intensely colored perennials. A great choice for shaded areas between buildings or where influence of large old shade or street trees limit plant choices to shade tolerant species.
Companion Plants
Group this dark fragrant shrub with brigher shade garden dwellers such as Buttons 'N Bows Hydrangea, (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Monrey'), Cherry Berry Plantain Lily, (Hosta x 'Cherry Berry'), Stoplight Foamy Bells, (x Heucherella 'Spotlight') and Golden Japanese Forest Grass, (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola').
History
This species is native to the Himalayas of China, grouped into the boxwood family. It was introduced by Hooker rather late after he returned from a collecting trip in 1901.
Lore
The fact that this species is polyembryonic, with up to seven embryos in one seed. It was first thought to be the result of atomic bomb radiation, but was proved later that the anomaly began before 1923 and therefore was a natural mutation.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | sar-ko-KOHK-a rus-si-FOH-li-a |
| Key feature: | Deer Resistant |
| Plant type: | Shrub |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 7 - 9 |
| Light needs: | Full shade |
| Water Needs: | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Average landscape size: | Slow grower to 3 to 5 ft. tall and wide. |
| Growth rate: | Slow |
| Flower attribute: | Fragrant |
| Special features: | Deer Resistant, Improved Pest and Disease Resistance, Showy Fruit |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Espalier, Hedge, Woodland Garden |
| Flower color: | White |
| Blooms: | Early spring |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 7051 |
