Sweet box is an evergreen shrub for shade, combining glossy foliage with small fragrant white flowers and gradually forming a colony through underground stems.
- Height
- 121–153 cm / 4–5 ft
- Spread
- 152–183 cm / 5–6 ft
- Light
- Shade / Partial shade
- Soil moisture
- Moist, well-drained
- Flowering
- Spring
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Maintenance
- Medium
- USDA zones
- 5a–8b
Planting
Choose partial or full shade and acidic, moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Allow room for the shrub to spread slowly between neighbouring plants.
Care
Keep moisture consistent, especially while establishing the planting. If the shape or height needs adjusting, prune in spring after flowering.
Before planting: Sunny positions can turn the leaves yellowish and reduce their gloss.
Planting Sweet box?
Find a landscaper nearby to help with planting and establishment.
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Sources & photo credit
Plant reference: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Content checked . Flowering seasons vary with local climate; USDA zones describe winter cold tolerance.
- Sweet box: Cathy Dewitt · CC BY 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Fragrant sarcococca: Clive Edgar · CC BY 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Bearberry: Walter Siegmund · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Mountain laurel: Randy Harter · CC BY 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.