OH such a Sweet Box!

Jan 26 2008 by Andrew Flynn, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Don’t be confused by the common name; I am talking about the delightful winter flowering evergreen shrub, Sarcococca.

There are two species commonly available and both produce clusters of tiny white flowers that have the most incredible scent.

Placed in a pot by the front door, the scent will pervade your house every time you open the door. These small to medium-sized shrubs, ideally suited to temporary container growing, originate from the Far East and are fully hardy in our winters. S. confusa can reach up to 2 metres (6ft) over time and produces a densely branched specimen that flowers for the whole of January and February.

Being monoecious it will pollinate itself and may go on to produce some small red or black fruits. S. hookeriana is also monoecious and flowers at around the same time. It does not reach the dizzy heights that confusa does and may spread outwards by suckers once established.

Sarcococca can manage in most soils other than very acidic ones, and prefers a moist, organic soil in partial shade to perform to its best.

If planted out, their winter display will be enhanced by underplanting with dwarf narcissi and snowdrops.

As they do not require any pruning to help them perform well in our gardens, you can just sit back and enjoy them.

With all the other scented winter flowering shrubs to add to the display, your garden should now have the sweet smell of success!