Fragrant Mountain Sweetbox (Sarcococca) – 2 Gallon Pot

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Have dense and dry shade where won’t many evergreens grow? Meet ‘Fragrant Mountain’ Sarcoccoca, commonly called Sweetbox, a highly attractive evergreen flowering shrub perfect for a natural hedge or grouping in part shade to heavy shade, even in dry shade under the canopies of shade trees where not much else will grow. Growing 2 to 3 feet tall and spreading in a dense mound 3 to 4 feet wide, Fragrant Mountain features highly attractive, elongated and pointed evergreen deep green leaves similar in appearance to English or cherry laurels. In late winter to early spring abundant clusters of dainty, tubular, white flowers have a wonderful hyacinth-like fragrance. So make sure to plant this sensory charmer near patios, porches, decks and other outdoor living spaces where the heavenly fragrance can be enjoyed. Shiny black berries follow the flowers for extra-added appeal. Though it will tolerate some morning sun this one really likes life on the shady side. You might also be happy to know that deer don’t touch it and disease and insects stay away.

Growing in a dense spreading mound 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, the Fragrant Mountain Sweetbox is ideal for use as an accent in smaller garden spaces and containers or in groupings or as a border or groundcover in shady landscape or woodland borders. It also is a perfect evergreen for shady home foundation plantings. In our gardens, it thrives in the shade under the canopies of large shade trees where not much else will grow. Plant near outdoor living and sitting spaces so the sweet fragrance of the flowers can be enjoyed from close up. A fine addition to fragrance gardens, woodland gardens, Asian gardens, rock gardens, container gardens, around water gardens and in the Xeriscape (low water needs).

Spacing:  3′ for low hedges or groupings,  7’+ for space between plants

Fragrant Mountain Sweetbox is very easy to grow in a moist but well-drained to somewhat dry (when established) acidic soil of average or better fertility and part shade to full shade. Morning and evening sun are okay but avoid the direct afternoon sun. Established plants are quite drought tolerant and do well in dry shade. As with many other plants, a constantly soggy or wet soil can be problematic. 

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