Sweet Box Winter Gem

A beautiful shrub for shade in winter, Sarcococca hookeriana Winter Gem is a small, evergreen shrub with an upright, bushy habit, very suitable for a smaller garden. The glossy, elliptical leaves are deep green and pointed. Red buds open to tassel-like, highly jasmine-scented, white flowers in winter, followed by red berries in summer, which persist on the plant for quite some time, turning black. Generally pest- and disease-free, and tolerates full sun in reliably moist soil. Tolerates clipping well; clip after flowering to maintain its dense habit. Sweet box Winter Gem is a really good do-er, and a good plant for early-emerging pollinators.

Site: Sheltered; tolerates atmospheric pollution
Soil: Grows best in any moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Position: Grows best in full shade or partial shade
Season of interest: All year, winter and summer in particular
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 36” (90cm) Spread: 30” (75cm) in 2-5 years