Fragrant Sweet Box is a broadleaf evergreen, low growing, dense shrub with a mature height of 4 feet and an equal width. It produces fragrant white flowers in late winter and retains attractive green foliage year round. The plant is drought tolerant with a slow to moderate growth rate and will spread from suckers. While it is not as cold hardy as some sarcococca species, it does do well grown outside in USDA zones 7 through 9. It will make an excellent low hedge or groundcover in the landscape and is particularly resistant to damage by deer. Consider locating this shrub in areas where the fragrant flowers can be appreciated (for example, near doors, sidewalks or foundations). The genus name comes from the Greek words sarkos meaning flesh and kokkos meaning a berry in reference to the fleshy fruits. The species name means having leaves like the genus Ruscus (butcher's broom). Fragrant Sweet Box grows best in acidic, organically rich, moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. The leaves tend to lose luster and may burn in full sun. Consistent moisture and a good mulch will help the plant succeed. Prune in spring after flowering to maintain attractive shape and desired height. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests. Scale may be an issue. VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Irregular; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Lustrous dark green leaves ovate, sharp-pointed, somewhat leathery, evergreen to 2 1/2 inches long.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower detail
Fragrant milky white flowers blossom in late winter through early spring. Unisexual, apetalous (without petals) flowers in tassel-like axillary racemes (females with 3 stigmas located below males with 4-6 stamens).
Bloom time
Spring; Winter
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Round red fruit, persists into winter, globular berries (to 1/4 inch across) ripen to black.