Sweet Box

Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna

Clusters of small, creamy-white, tassel-like flowers and slender, mid- to dark green leaves. This compact, thicket-forming shrub is perfect for planting below a window, close to an entrance or path. Excellent evergreen groundcover for a moist, shady spot, the unassuming flowers are deceptive - their vanilla-like scent is one of the headiest winter fragrances.

• Position: partial to deep shade
• Soil: moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist, well- drained soil
• Rate of growth: slow-growing to average
• Flowering period: December to March
• Flower colour: creamy-white
• Other features: the flowers are followed by spherical, black or blue-black berries
• Hardiness: fully hardy

• 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
• Goes well with: Mahonia x media 'Winter Sun', Kerria japonica, Pulmonaria officinalis 'Sissinghurst White', Epimedium x perralchicum 'Frohnleiten', Helleborus x sternii, Eranthis hyemalis