Plant of the Month for February
Christmas Box or Sweet Box

Sarcococca spp.

These are a small genus of evergreen generally small or dwarf shrubs which originate from China, and whose main attribute is the sweet scent produced from many generally insignificant flowers with cream anthers. They are called “Christmas Box” because they can start to flower in December, with the main season being January/February, and because they belong to the widely known “Box” (Buxaceae) family.

The flowers are not their only attribute - they produce shining black berries in all but one species in which the fruit is red, and they also have glossy generally lanceolate leaves. Plant size range is usually from 60cm – 100cm height and spread.

Sarcocca prefer shade or part shade but will grow in full sun, though the leaf colour can become bleached out in this situation. They also prefer moist soils, but will grow in dryer regimes, so can be planted under the shade of trees (always a difficult situation to find suitable subjects for). They are tolerant of a wide range of soil types if drainage is good i.e. acid/alkaline, and are excellent as ground cover.

On the Myerscough College main campus you can see the following specimens:

• S. confusa – rounded dense plants in corner bed next to the old staff garages,
• S. hookeriana var 'humilis' – dense compact shape, corner bed next to the old staff garages,
• S. hookeriana ‘Purple Stem’ – upright shape, with the young stems, petioles and midribs are flushed with purple (new bed created in front of Darwen hostel).
• S. ruscifolia ‘Dragon Gate’ - introduced by Roy Lancaster, berries in dark reds – small bed next to the laboratories.

Jeff Hodson, Horticulture Lecturer