GARDEN GURU: A plant gets my attention when the RHS describes it as ‘tolerant of atmospheric pollution, dry shade and neglect’. But Sarcococca is much more than a survivor; it’s a wonderful, small leaved evergreen, with winter bloom which gives off an intoxicating scent – hence it’s commonly known as ‘sweet box’. There are four varieties from the daddy of them all, the bushy ‘confusa’, through to the baby ‘humilis’ which is being proposed as a replacement for blight prone box edging. If you get a passing drift of the most marvellous and mysterious fragrance sometime between Christmas and March, it could well be Sarcococca (great name too!).

For more detail visit the RHS website at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/16452/Sarcococca-confusa/Details
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