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Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis

Image of Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis

TL

Family

Buxaceae

Botanical Name

Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis

Plant Common Name

Himalayan Sweet Box, Sweet Box

General Description

The compact, spreading habit of dwarf sweet box makes it one of the most versatile and desirable forms for the landscape. It is like standard box in all other ways and remains beautifully evergreen all season long.

Lovers of fragrant plants take note! The small white flowers of this exceptional evergreen offer intoxicating fragrance very early in the season. Sweet box is a sprawling, densely foliated shrub that spreads via rhizomes and can form a thicket if left unmaintained. It is native to Afghanistan, Bhutan, south central China, northeast India and Nepal where it exists in the forest understory.

The glossy leaves of sweet box are oblong, lance-shaped and dark green. In late winter, small white blossoms appear along the branches in clusters of five. These are largely obscured by the foliage but can easily be found be bees and other insect pollinators. The flowers are either male or female (monecious). The female flowers are followed by persistent bluish black berries.

Grow sweet box in partial to full shade and fertile soil with average to good drainage and an acid to neutral pH. It will grow in partial sun if provided good soil moisture. Plant this tidy, low-growing shrub as a spreading groundcover for wooded areas or to stabilize moist, shady hillsides. Situate it where its early fragrance will not be missed!

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    9 - 5

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    6 - 9

  • Sunset Zone

    4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Broadleaf Evergreen

  • Sun Exposure

    Partial Shade, Full Shade

  • Height

    1'-2' / 0.3m - 0.6m

  • Width

    2'-4' / 0.6m - 1.2m

  • Bloom Time

    Early Spring, Late Winter

  • Native To

    Central Asia, India, Nepal

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Clay, Loam

  • Tolerances

    Pollution

  • Growth Rate

    Slow

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Mat-forming

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    White, Ivory

  • Fruit Color

    Black

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Dark Green

  • Bark Color

    Dark Green

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    Yes

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    Yes

  • Foliage Texture

    Medium

  • Foliage Sheen

    Glossy

  • Evergreen

    Yes

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Bark Texture

    Smooth

  • Usage

    Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    Sometimes

  • Attracts

    Birds

  • Self-Sowing

    No