Sweet Box Ground Cover

Sweet box ground cover

Their showy, shiny black berries are attractive and linger on the plants. Plants slowly spread through underground suckers, but not considered invasive.

Is Sweet box a perennial?

Sweetbox Plant Info Sarcococca sweetbox shrubs have dwarf sized appeal, perennial foliage and surprisingly sweet smelling tiny flowers.

How big does sweetbox get?

It slowly forms a nice evergreen mat, spreading by underground roots. Plants grown from cuttings can vary in mature size — typical growth is around 10-12” tall x 2-3' wide, but plants can grow as tall as 2-3'. Recently new varieties have been release that are more uniform in their habits.

How fast does sweet box grow?

The foliage is dense, with stems growing outward from central woody branches. The leaves are oval and may appear rippled. The plant typically reaches about 7′ feet tall and 3′ feet wide. It may take about five to seven years for sarcococca confusa to reach its full height.

Does sweet box spread?

This tough, evergreen, woody ground cover (to 16" tall) can quickly spread by underground stems to form dense weed-blocking mats.

How far apart do you plant sweet box?

Hardiness	6 – 9 What's My Zone?
Height	3' – 5' (90cm – 150cm)
Spread	3' – 5' (90cm – 150cm)
Spacing	60" (150cm)
Water Needs	Average

Does Sweet Box need full sun?

They can tolerate sites in full sun, providing the soil is kept damp. They prefer a humus-rich, moderately fertile, moist, but well-drained soil that doesn't dry out in summer.

Do Sweet Williams need to be cut back?

Protect your sweet William plants from the winter cold by cutting back dead foliage and blooms after flowering, but don't prune in the fall. Let the rest of the dead foliage fall to the ground to create a layer of protective mulch.

Is Sarcococca frost hardy?

Most species of Sarcococca are fully frost hardy, S. saligna a little less so, and all are tolerant of neglect and dry shady conditions. There is no need to prune Sarcococca at all.

Can you shape sweet box?

It can be clipped into topiary shapes as an alternative to common box (Buxus sempervirens).

Why is my sweet box not growing?

As long as you haven't been pruning your sweetbox down hard, it's most likely that it isn't blooming because it is too young.

Can Sarcococca tolerate full sun?

Sarcococca are best planted in moist, well-drained soil of chalk, clay, sand or loam within an acidic, alkaline or neutral PH balance. These shrubs are best positioned in full shade or part shade, although full sun will be tolerated if placed in exceedingly damp soil.

Do Sweetpeas come back every year?

Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) only live for a year, dying after setting seed. But don't let this put you off as they are super easy to grow from seed. Perennial species such as Lathyrus latifolius come back year after year, but mostly lack fragrance and there are fewer to choose from.

Will sweet box grow in shade?

It loves growing in shade or semishade and it has wonderfully fragrant flowers in winter. Although the flowers are small, almost insignificant, you will smell their sweet scent long before you actually come across the Sarcococca.

Do Sweetpeas reseed themselves?

Will sweet peas self-seed? Yes, in warmer climates. If you leave your sweet pea plants to turn to seed in fall, and allow those seed pods to pop open and disperse the seeds, it is absolutely possible for some to self-seed next year.

Is fragrant sweetbox toxic?

The flowering period is usually 4 to 5 weeks. Berries for all types are not usually listed as poisonous, but are not recommended for consumption; in fact, even most birds ignore them and they persist after flowering long into the spring.

Do birds eat sweet box berries?

Click to claim. Fragrant sweet box (Sarcococca ruscifolia) produces tiny winter flowers with an intensely sweet fragrance. Its dark red berries turn black as they ripen in early spring and attract birds.

What are the risks of a box spread?

The small risks of this strategy include:

The cost of trading - Some brokers charges high brokerage/fees, which along with the taxes could make the overall loss-making trade.
The box spread can be liquidated by an offsetting transaction easily and transparently on an exchange with minimal loss/profit.

Do hummingbirds like Sarcococca?

Very easy to care for, and hummingbirds love their fragrant flowers. They prefer moisture, but not too wet. This is a unique specimen that is a great addition to the garden. There are two types of Sarcococca; one is a ground cover variety, and the other is a bush that can grow 5 feet tall.

How long do sweet williams last in the garden?

The plant grows for two years, blooming in the second year. The compact size of Sweet Williams makes them great for containers and pots or on a windowsill. Despite their small size, they also make good cut flowers – all they need for indoor splendour is a small vase.