How to Grow Sarcococca Confusa (Christmas Box / Sweet Box)

General Information and Description

Sarcococca confusa often more commonly referred to as Christmas Box or Sweet Box is a bushy, compact, evergreen shrub which will bring some much-needed winter colour to any garden.

This easy to grow shrub has glossy, dark green rather leathery foliage and produces very tiny, barely conspicuous creamy white flowers in the winter from December through to March. Although these flowers may be hardly noticeable, one thing that will not be overlooked is their strong, sweet, vanilla scent, making it perfect for planting near doors or along pathways, where you will be able to enjoy the heavenly fragrance. Sarcococca confusa will then go on to produce glossy black berries, sometimes while still in flower.

This reliable and hardy shrub will be at its best when planted in the shade, which it loves, making it perfect for growing beneath trees and other difficult to grow areas of the garden and will also do well when grown in a large enough container. Although Sarcococca confusa can tolerate full sun, it will need to be planted in damp soil.

Luckily Sarcococca confusa does not suffer from the dreaded blight problem which has become a real scourge among a lot of box growers and as an added bonus is very tolerant of air pollution and to being neglected!

Requiring very little in the way of pruning, a light trim in late winter or early spring will keep this delightful shrub neat and in good shape.

Sarcococca confusa is perfect for growing in a low maintenance garden, cottage garden, as ground cover, hedges or on the patio in a container and has been given the Royal Horticultural Societies Award of Garden Merit.

How to Grow & Care For Sarcococca confusa

Grow in a moist but well-drained moderately fertile and humus-rich soil in a position which gives shade or semi shade and shelter. If you wish to grow this shrub in full sun it will require planting in a damp soil (not waterlogged).

If growing in containers on the patio then a soil based compost, for example John Innes No. 3, is perfect.

As with any newly planted, young shrub you will need to keep your specimen fed and watered regularly until it has become established, after which it will not require much in the way of attention and can actually thrive on neglect.

If grown in a container then regular watering and feeding will always be required including potting on when the shrub becomes pot bound.

A light trim in either late winter or early spring will keep this naturally neat and compact shrub tidy, with no other pruning necessary.

How to Propagate Sarcococca confusa

Propagation can be by either seed, which should be sown outdoors in containers in either the autumn or spring or by taking semi hardwood cuttings during the late summer.

Pests and Diseases

Sarcococca confusa is generally free of pests and diseases.

Soil: Moist but well drained, humus rich, moderately fertile soil

Position: Sheltered position in shade or semi shade

Height & Spread: 60 inches x 39 inches

Flowering Period: December, January, February, March

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