Sweet Box (Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna 'Purple Stem') | Shrubs and Sub-shrubs | Plants

Sweet Box

Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna 'Purple Stem'

Common Name: Sweet Box
Genus: Sarcococca
Species: hookeriana var. digyna
Cultivar: 'Purple Stem'

The Greek translation of the word Sarcococca refers to the fleshy berries of these shrubs.

Category: Shrubs and Sub-shrubs
Growth Rate: Slow growing
Features: Has fragrant flowers/foliage, Provides winter colour, Has interesting/colourful ornamental fruit, Long flowering period

Hardiness: Hardy	Height: 1.50 m (150 cm)
Sun/Shade: Partial shade or Deep shade	Spread: 1.50 m (150 cm)

Foliage Type: Evergreen	Flower Colour: Cream, Pink, White
Foliage Colour: Green, Purple	Flowering Period: January to March

Soil Type: Normal/Loam
Soil Moisture: Moist, but well drained

A suckering evergreen shrub that gradually forms a dense thicket. The new shoots are flushed with an attractive dark purple-pink hue which gradually fades as the stems mature. The stems are clothed with slender tapering dark green leaves and in winter sweetly scented pink-tinged white flowers appear which are followed by rounded blue-black fruit.

Garden Care: In late-winter or early-spring lightly trim or prune back shoots that spoil the plant's symmetry. After pruning apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted compost around the base of the plant.