How to Grow and Care for Sweet boxes

Fragrant sweet box (Sarcococca ruscifolia) produces tiny winter flowers with an intensely sweet fragrance. Its dark red berries turn black as they ripen in early spring and attract birds. Fragrant sweet box's reddish wood is widely used in furniture, doorframes, and even rail ties.

Sarcococca wallichii is a hardy evergreen shrub with glossy dark green leaves and a compact growth habit. It's distinguished by highly fragrant, tiny white flowers that bloom in winter, providing interest during a time when most plants are dormant. The plant thrives in shaded understories, demonstrating resilience in low-light conditions. Its subtle black fruit berries add to its ornamental value post-flowering.

Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna 'Purple Stem' is an evergreen shrub known as dwarf sweetbox. It has a dark purple stem, upon which bloom little white flowers with red centers. This elegantly simple shrub grows in a dense, compact form, and requires little pruning. It is perfect for a low maintenance bed or hedge.

As its name suggests, fragrant sarcococca features tiny but exceptionally fragrant flowers. They bloom in winter and are followed by glossy, dark berries. This evergreen shrub is often cultivated as an ornamental and makes a great choice for shady areas.

Sarcococca orientalis is a compact evergreen shrub known for its lustrous, dark green leaves and small, clustered creamy-white flowers that emit a strikingly sweet fragrance. Flourishing in shaded or partially shaded environments, its robust root system helps it thrive in well-drained, humus-rich soil, often outcompeting less adaptable plants in the undergrowth of forested areas.