Christmas Box

[Rosefriend]

or Sarcococca humilis




what a dream of a plant - the fragrance of honey is so intensive and as it flowers at this time of the year it is an added bonus. I was 4/5 metres away and could smell it - wonderful.

It grows up to 60 cm, evergreen and should be planted in half shade.

How could I have missed this plant before.

RF

[andy]

The picture on the left is S. Hookeriana and the right is S. humillis.

I have Humilis in full and total shade at work and it is around 6' high.....hookerian is around 3'. My humilis flowers in Dec and Jan whilst hookeriana is slightly later and flowers in Feb.

A very sickly, heavenly scented plant which, as RF says, can be smelt many meters away.

[Rosefriend]

Well the one thing here Andy is that it will never grow so large because of the temperatures - I am also thinking of putting it in a tub so that I can wrap it in fleece for the winter.

What do you think - would it be better in the soil or in a pot?

RF

[andy]

I would try it in the ground RF....they're pretty hardy and i've never known them to suffer in very cold weather like Hebes for example would.

Go for it !

[Rosefriend]

Thanks andy - I will certainly try and find a place for it - the smell though - well it is out of this world - I can imagine that you could feel a little sick after a while - it is very heady.

My plant is very compact and nice.

RF

[andy]

What i find so nice about them RF is when you get a couple of mildish days in the middle of winter and you have a walk in the garden only to be greeted with this wall of scent that you'd only usually associate with summer....lovely stuff and good luck with yours.

[Chuckles]

That looks nice RF and having scent this time of year is definately tempting, may have to put that on my wish list for later in the year ;D