Humilis very fragrant, dainty white flowers on this dwarf evergreen shrub. Sarcococca hookeriana winter gemyellow leaves on plants are often due to watering or nutrient deficiency. It produces aromatic white flowers throughout winter followed by black berries. For example near the front entrance or along a walkway. However, its best claim to fame are its tiny winter blooming flowers that provide an incredible thick, delightful vanillalike fragrance. Glossy green, narrow leaves form the foundation from which small, but extremely fragrant, pinktipped white flowers appear in late winter. Announcing their presence with their incredible, sweet vanilla fragrance, tiny ivorywhite flowers appear in late winter to early spring, somewhat hidden among the dense foliage of glossy, slightly rippled, dark green leaves. Christmas box will tolerate full sun provided that the soil remains moist. A large image of sarcococca hookeriana humilis christmas box. It has larger than average leaves, which are a glossy, rich green and highly scented white flowers in winter that are followed by spherical, glossy, red berries that ripen to black. Its charms are subtle and understated, but i really enjoy this plant. Browse pictures and read growth cultivation information about sarcococca species, christmas box, himalayan sarcococca, sweet box sarcococca hookeriana var. The least amount of sun it gets, the better is does.
The christmas box collection christmas box by richard paul evans. Genus sarcococca are compact, sometimes suckering evergreen shrubs with simple, leathery leaves and tiny, fragrant creamywhite flowers in winter or spring, followed by red, purple or black berries which may persist into the following winter. The polished appearance of the dark green leaves create a cleanlooking uniform appearance. With such a sweet scent, you might expect that sarcococca flowers are showy, but they are actually teeny tiny. Feb 06, 2018 how to grow roses from cuttings fast and easy rooting rose cuttings with a 2 liter soda bottle duration. Grow sarcococca in any moist, well drained garden soil in a sheltered position, in semishade or shade. It can fill a winter garden with its sweet, summery fragrance, from tiny white flowers. Tolerant of neglect, a fine plant with glossy leaves for a dull, shady part of the garden. Sarcococca ruscifolia, commonly called fragrant sweetbox or fragrant sarcococca, is a dense, lowgrowing, sometimes suckering, broadleaf evergreen shrub with a compact habit that typically grows to 34 tall and as wide. Dwarf sweet box, dwarf christmas box, sarcococca humilis. The shrub has shiny, pointed, 3 long leaves that are medium to dark green and look good all year long. Sarcococca hookeriana humilis fragrant sweet box garden.
One evergreen thats perfect close to the house is the highly scented sarcococca or christmas box. Bomc, qpb, bomc homestyle book club, bomc craft books club, bomc childrens book club alternates. Or close to a path to the greenhouse or shed, or near a seating area. Commonly known as christmas box, sweet box christmas box grown for its scent rather than the closeclipped hedges and topiary of buxus though will make a low, informal hedge. Sarcococca hookeriana winter gem this new hybrid form s. Sarcococca is a versatile, low maintenance shrub that thrives in a good range of conditions from dry shade to damp woodland edges. Flowering between december and february, the sarcococca hookeriana humilis produces lush, leathery foliage, and. Sarcococca hookeriana is a species of evergreen shrub or groundcover, also known as himalayan sweet box. Plant database entry for sweet box sarcococca hookeriana var. The christmas box isbn 9781566840286 is an american novel written by richard paul evans and selfpublished in 1993. At present our information about this plant is limited to a list of the nurseries that supply it.
There are a dozen or more species of these evergreen plants which come from moist, shady places in the forests and thickets of china. Orlando sun sentinel the books timeless message is appropriate for any season. Whatever the reason, i find that with each passing christmas. Commonly known as sweet box or christmas box if you have trouble thinking of what plants to grow in shaded spots then these plants are from a genus that you should try. Sarcococca confusa agm, 3l, christmas box, shrub, fragrant the shrub that every garden should have. Most fragrant sarcococca sweetboxchristmas box gardeners. It is an evergreen plant with origins in asia and a wide, spreading shape fuelled by its suckering habit. Now that box throughout the country has become susceptible to the fungal disease that turns it brown, there is a hunt on to find an evergreen replacement. I started new plants from cuttings and seed, from their berries. The commonly named christmas box or sweet box is one of those plants that just lifts your spirits when you pass it by. Mar 03, 2012 sweet box is a short 1224 inch tall slowly spreading evergreen. Sarcococca hookeriana var humilis sometimes just s. Discussion in tropical gardening started by graham the gardener 1978, apr 26, 2012.
Dwarf sweet box makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also wellsuited for use in outdoor pots and containers. It is perfect for growing in containers, so position them on the patio, just outside the back door, and open the door or windows during warm winter days. This native to the western himalayas wants organically rich soil. Sarcococca confusa is also known as sweet box or christmas box. It slowly forms a nice evergreen mat, spreading by underground roots. Sarcococca christmas box or sweet box is excellent plant for the winter garden and has small but highly scented flowers among the shiny evergreen leaves. Sarcococca hedging an excellent scented and flowering. Small, evergreen, shadeloving shrubs are hard to find in the northwest, but this sweet box fits the bill with its fragrant white flowers in early spring and blueblack berries in summer. Most fragrant sarcococca sweetbox christmas box dim, feb 2, 2012, in forum. Dense evergreen with glossy dark green leaves and tiny, highly fragrant, whitetingedpink flowers borne in the leaf axils in late winter followed by spherical black fruits. As grown by a national heritage plant collection holder. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 9.
The glossy evergreen leaves of winter gem produce glorious little flowers, resembling little fireworks, which emit the most sensational and sweet. Himalayan sweet box is a great groundcover for the shade garden. Commonly known as the christmas box or himalayan sweet box, sarcococca hookeriana var. Sarcococca hookeriana winter gem sweet box, christmas box. The plants botanical name is sarcococca and you will find sarcococca humilis, s. Sarococca winter gem has sweet perfumed flowers which are a magnet to every nose.
On another thread i mentioned about anglesey abbeys winter garden with feb being a good time of year to visit. Robbie blackhallmiles in 1980 roy lancaster collected and subsequently introduced s. Provides dramatic color and form to autumn and winter landscapes. Christmas box, sarcococca confusa, is a dense, winterflowering evergreen shrub, bearing sweetly scented, pure white blooms, in contrast with dark green leaves. Fragrant valley sarcococca is a vigorous, yet compact, broadleaf evergreen with year round interest. Sarcococca hookeriana winter gem bred by peter moore. Sarcococca hookeriana humilis is commonly know as christmas box and is in the same group as sweet box bushes. Sarcococca confusa, fragrant winter shrub collection, winter shrub collection, sarcococca hookeriana var.
Sarcococca hookeriana humilis christmas box view the complete big picture find out where you can buy sarcococca hookeriana humilis christmas box online. For a refined and elegant, truly evergreen ground cover, i recommend dwarf sweetbox, sarcococca hookeriana var. Sarcococca sweet box or christmas box is a genus of 11 species of flowering plants in the box family buxaceae, native to eastern and southeastern asia and the himalayas. Plant sarcococca in a place where you can enjoy it.
Fragrant white flowers are followed by blueblack fruit. The christmas box collection christmas box by richard paul evans book cover, description, publication history. Great deals on one book or all books in the series. Lustrous, lanceolate, leathery, dark green leaves to 3 12 long and to 34 wide are evergreen. Sarcococca hookeriana winter gem sweet box christmas box. Under a window which you might open on a sunny day. A christmas story purportedly written for his children, the book was advertised. Plants grown from cuttings can vary in mature size typical growth is around 1012 tall x 23 wide. Alternatively grow sarcococca plants in patio containers using soil based compost such as john innes no. Blooms are followed by bright red ornamental fruit. Alan titchmarshs tips on growing christmas box in your.
In time we will be adding more details including a description, growing information, advice and photographs. How to grow the christmas box sarcococca hookeriana. It is lowgrowing, usually between 12 and 24 inches high. This evergreen sweet box shrub thrive in partial to deep shade, and will gradually form a dense thicket. Its dark, glossy, evergreen leaves, birdattracting berries, comfort in shady gardens even in dry shade. White flowers in january are a bit later than and not as fragrant as s. The leaves are dark shiny green, leathery and pointed and in winter the stems bear many very small white flowers almost hidden underneath the leaves, which are followed in summer by red or black berries. Commonly known as the christmas box or sweet box, sarcococca hookeriana humilis is a dense and reliable evergreen shrub which is also incredibly simple to grow, making it a firm favourite of novice and experienced gardeners alike.
Sweetly scented, sarcococca confusa sweet box is a terrific, winterflowering, evergreen shrub rich of many qualities. Most of the year, it provides a lush green background on both sides of the front door of the house here at the garden in the woods. Sarcococca sweet box collection winter flowering sarcococca collection s confusa s hookeriana christmas box shrubs sterter plants of 23inches 4. It can be used either as filler or as a thriller in the spillerthrillerfiller container combination, depending on the height and form. Sarcococca species, christmas box, himalayan sarcococca. Sarcococca hookeriana commonly called sweetbox is a lowgrowing, broadleaf evergreen shrub to 5 tall that spreads, albeit slowly, by stolons to 6 wide or more over time in shady areas of the landscape. Sweet box, christmas box sarcococca humilis my garden life. The christmas box trilogy by richard paul evans goodreads. Sarcococca hook can be used as a ground cover in areas where a. Commonly known as sweet box or christmas box, this evergreen shrub is a must have for winter borders bringing year round colour, scent and structure. Buy sweet box sarcococca hookeriana winter gem pmoore03. Sweet smelling flowers are enough to make us love a plant forever, but sarcococca keeps on giving. This plant is tolerant of dry shade and urban conditions that thrive with little care. Branch trimmings very attractive as christmas decor.
Commonly known as the christmas box or sweet box, sarcococca hookeriana humilis is a dense and reliable evergreen shrub which is also incredibly simple to grow, making it a firm favourite of novice and. Try to find a spot close to the house for christmas box, or sweet box. Two of the books in his noel trilogy the christmas box and the. How to prune a sarcococca hook humilis home guides sf gate. They are slowgrowing, monoecious, evergreen shrubs 12 m 37 ft tall. Posted by songofjoy clarksville, tn zone 6b on jan 15, 2012 8. Sarcococca, also known by many as sweet box, is a wonderful, smaller evergreen shrub with glossy green, attractive foliage. Technically a small shrub, dwarf sweetbox slowly creeps by means of underground stolons to form a 4. The leaves are borne alternately, 312 cm long and 14 cm broad.
Find the complete the christmas box trilogy book series by richard paul evans. Banks and slopes, cottageinformal, ground cover, low maintenance, resistant to pollution, woodland, foliage only, drought tolerant. Excellent in semishade and a rich soil but also tolerant of dry shade. Native to the himalayas, the original species is a rarely found, erect growing evergreen shrub and named in honour of sir joseph dalton hooker june 1817 december 1911, charles darwins. Sarcococca is a genus of 20 small, slowgrowing, shrubby species from southeast asia and the himalayas that are closely related to boxwood. There could be several reasons why your leaves are going yellow. The polished appearance of the dark green leaves creates a cleanlooking, uniform appearance. It features a ovate, sharppointed, somewhat leathery, glossy deep green, evergreen leaves to 2 12 long, b fragrant. Small nonedible black berries offer further interest thereafter. Sarcococca hookeriana humilis arbuste nain a fleurs. Jan 20, 2012 christmas box is a smallish evergreen shrub native to asia. These are slowgrowing, evergreen shrubs with glossy leaves and tiny, highly fragrant white flowers. As far as i know they are all highly fragrant but, as with a lot of plants, they can come in different colour leaves and flowers. The unlikely new king of christmas fiction the new york times.
A genus of slow growing evergreen shrubs, grown for their foliage, fragrant, winter flowers and spherical fruits. Pruning these plants is not as hard as you might think. Sarcococca, sweet box, or christmas box is a genus of 1620 species of flowering plants in the family buxaceae, native to eastern and southeastern asia and the himalaya. Planted one on the north side of our house, near the front door. The name is derived from the greek words sarkos meaning flesh, and kokkos meaning a berry, a reference to the fleshy fruits.
How to prune a sarcococca hook humilis know about life. Winter flowering shrub producing white, fragrant flowers. If you continue to use this website then we will assume you consent to the use of cookies for this purpose. Once established, it requires little maintenance and tolerates a wide range of conditions even difficult spots in dryshade. Sarcococca hookeriana winter gem sweet box winter gem will reach a height of 0.
Sarcococca hedging is an extremely good small hedging plant which has become increasingly popular in recent years as an alternative to box hedging it is evergreen and produces elliptic taper pointed dark green leaves and grows well in many situations. Sweet box grows best in open to deep shade in locations protected from hot afternoon sun. An outstanding choice for dry shade gardens where other plants wont grow. Dense, quick spreading evergreen shrub, with dark lustrous foliage. It has larger than average leaves, which are a glossy rich green and highly scented white flowers in winter that are followed by spherical, glossy, red berries. The new shoots are flushed with an attractive dark purplepink hue which gradually fades to green as the stems mature. Its extremely tolerant of shade and is therefore perfect for growing in a woodland border or shady corner, where you can enjoy its heady fragrance throughout winter. Buy sarcococca hookeriana humilis j parker dutch bulbs. Sarcococca hookeriana humilis, commonly known as sweet box, is an evergreen that originates in the himalaya mountains. Sweetly fragrant, pinktinged white flowers in early spring are followed by decorative black fruit. If they are just yellowing with age they will do it gradually whereas if something is wrong. Native to the western himalayas, sarcococca is an evergreen shrub that spreads slowly. Sarcococca confusa agm, 3l, christmas box, shrub, fragrant.
Sweet box sarcococca hookeriana humilis christmas box. The trick is to differentiate between the leaves naturally going yellow and dropping off with age and there being something wrong. The ones that we sell are one of the many varieties of sar. The major attraction of sarcococca is the sweetly fragrant flowers in winter when little else is flowering. Winter box, sweet box sarcococca the flowers are highly scented, so plant them near the house where you can fully enjoy the gorgeous aroma.
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