Sarcococca confusa

Sarcococca confusa (sweet box) is a slow‑growing, evergreen shrub valued for its glossy green foliage and powerfully scented, creamy‑white winter flowers, which typically appear from December to March and are followed by dark berries. It’s well suited to Irish gardens in partial to full shade, thriving in moist but well‑drained, humus‑rich soil and coping well with clay. Compact and bushy, it makes an excellent choice for shaded borders, low informal hedging, and for planting near paths or doorways where its winter fragrance can be enjoyed; expect an eventual size of about 2m tall and wide over time, with minimal pruning needed after flowering to maintain shape.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Partial shade to full shade

Rate of Growth: Slow

Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich; tolerates clay

Hardiness: Hardy evergreen; reliable through typical Irish winters

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Plant at a Glance