Evergreen shrub with plenty to offer

SARCOCOCCA confusa, aptly named Christmas Box, but also known as Sweet Box are names so fitting this plant at this time of year when it is in full flower releasing the most pleasant sweet scent. Sarcococca, in my opinion, is such an under used plant, not the type of plant that shouts for attention, but none-the-less deserves so much more credit than it gets. It is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 6ft tall, and in the depths of winter it is very pleasing indeed to see something bright and green. It has fairly inconspicuous creamy white flowers which are then followed by glossy black berries.

But not only can it be applauded for showing its best when all else around it is asleep, it will also cope and indeed prefers the more difficult places to grow, being more than happy to grow in the shade of a large tree or building and coping with the dryer conditions this also may bring. It will be perfectly happy growing in full sun as long as the conditions are damp enough, so it does not dry out. Leave it alone in dry shady conditions and it will go on and on doing its thing without any fuss or attention, and even more it will reward you for it, year after year releasing its sweet smell into the air.

However if you’re looking for something different then there are a number of different varieties that can fill a number of different roles. Smaller than Sarcococca confusa and slower growing is Sarcococca ruscifolia var. chinensis, which will flower all the way up the stem, and then is followed by dark red berries. As the name suggests it comes from China and is a favourite for flower-arrangers because when cut, it can last for as long as a fortnight in water.

Perhaps the most attractive and desirable of all the Sarcococcas is Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna, which has narrow lanceolate leaves that make it look very graceful. There is also a variety called 'Purple Stem' which holds small, delicate, muskily scented flowers which are pinkish/red and white on purple stems, making it in my opinion one of the most attractive varieties available. The flowers of these two small shrubs are a little pinker than the rest; the habit of digyna is more restrained than confusa or ruscifolia.

Smallest of all the Sarcococca is the variety called humilis. This is a very sweet small shrub, growing to around 60cm tall if allowed. This might be the one to choose if you wanted to find a replacement for box hedging, especially now that box throughout the country has become susceptible to blight (the fungal disease that turns it brown), the hunt is on to find an evergreen replacement and Sarcococca humilis could be the answer. Many may disagree and suggest other alternatives such as Ilex crenate and Lonicera nitida as better options, that is a debate for another time, but I would suggest given its credentials of coping with conditions such as deep shade and dry soil conditions it is definitely worth considering. It makes neat glossy bushes because it suckers freely, which some could find to be a nuisance but it is very easy to control by just by pulling out unwanted suckers.

So next time when considering an evergreen shrub to fill a quiet corner, I can guarantee the cheery Christmas Box won’t disappoint.