General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Partial Shade to Full Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0)
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 7a -17.8 °C (0 °F) to -15 °C (5 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9b
Plant Height: 3 to 5 feet
Plant Spread: 3 to 5 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Broadleaf
Fruit: Showy
Other: 1/4 inch globose dark red berries, ripening to black.
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Flower Color: White
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Spring
Suitable Locations: Espalier
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Provides winter interest
Groundcover
Resistances: Tolerates dry shade
Humidity tolerant

Image
Common names
  • Fragrant Sweet Box

Photo Gallery
Location: Madrid, Spain | April, 2023
Date: 2023-04-08

Photo courtesy of Joy Creek Nursery
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo Courtesy of Secret Garden Growers.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2020-01-12
Location: My garden near Lincoln UK
Date: 2011-11-19
Flower buds which are on the plant at the same time as fruits, al
Location: My garden near Lincoln UK
Date: 2011-12-27
Leaves are evergreen but very harsh winters may damage some.
Location: My garden near Lincoln UK
Date: 2011-12-27
Fruits so far have been sparse, they ripen around the same time a
Comments:
  • Posted by KellyGreen (Chevy Chase, MD - Zone 7a) on Feb 25, 2024 4:22 PM concerning plant:
    A well-behaved yet durable evergreen ground cover in our zone 7a yard. It does particularly well on steep slopes (or perhaps few other things do well!) Some of it is in full sun, which does result in moderately bleached foliage. It also grows in full (and dry) shade, though even more slowly than its normally slow rate. The flowers, which bloom in late winter-early spring, are unremarkable, but they have a lovely, honey-like scent.
  • Posted by JRsbugs (Near Lincoln UK) on Dec 31, 2012 12:27 PM concerning plant:
    This plant survived 7 weeks below freezing in the winter 2010/11 in the UK when temperatures dropped to -17C. It needed some pruning to remove damaged growth but it survived. The small flowers are very sweetly scented, and are produced over winter. It hasn't grown quite as well in the ground as it had done in a pot, perhaps two years of drought didn't help it.

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