Sweetbox Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sar-koh-KOH-kuh hook-er-ee-AN-uh HEW-mil-is
- Description
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Useful in groups as filler or background; spreads by underground stems. Fragrant blooms in early spring, hidden under foliage; glossy evergreen leaves in same plane, forming a herringbone pattern; spreads by rhizomes to form a colony.
Insects, Diseases,and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to boxwood blight.
Quick ID
- Lanceolate leaves alternate in herringbone pattern
- Green stems foul-smelling when bruised
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sarcococca
- Species:
- hookeriana
- Family:
- Buxaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & E. Homalaya to SE. Tibet.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Shrub
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are globose, berry-like drupe, black, 0.5 cm.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are apetalous, whitish to cream, fragrant, 1 cm long, in leaf axils.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, simple, lanceolate, entire, acute, cuneate, glabrous, 6-8 cm long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stem is slender, green, slightly pubescent, foul-smelling when bruised.
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
