Himalayan Sweet Box – a Hardy, Sweet Smelling, Shade Loving, Evergreen Groundcover

Each year before spring, in zone 7a, there’s a certain glossy ground cover — the fragrant sweet box —whose delightful permeating fragrance fills the yard.

We could practically set the calendar by when our hardy evergreen ground cover — sweet box — starts to emit its wonderful scent!  The tiny, unpretentious flower packs a powerfully delightful scent that permeates the yard and wafts in through open windows on mild days in early spring. 

We have the Himalayan sweet box, Sarcococca hookeriana var humilis; (formerly called Sarcococca humilis);

This low-growing plant with evergreen leaves, purple-black berries, and intensely sweet flowers is definitely worth considering as a ground cover or background plant of mid height at 1-2 feet tall.

Perhaps, the most surprising feature of the Fragrant Sweet Box evergreen shrub is how such a pervasive fragrance can issue from so small a collection of tiny white flowers with a yellow center, barely visible beneath the lustrous foliage with shiny green leaves.

The Sarcococca sweet box evergreen shrub genus name is of Greek origin:
sarkos = flesh
kokkos = berry

Most Popular Fragrant Sarcococca Varieties

• S. confusa
• S. hookeriana (Himalayan)
• S. ruscifolia var. chinensis
• S. ruscifolia var. chinensis ‘Dragon Gate’

Sarcococca Common Names

• Christmas box
• Fragrant sweet box
• Sweet box

Late Winter Blossoms ~ Heralds of Spring!
Sweet box flowers… tiny… sparse but mighty in fragrance.

Sweet Box Fragrance Permeates the Yard

From the moment we step out the doors in late winter, we’re treated to a delicate sweetness that fills our entire front yard in late winter. Very much a welcome scent of spring to come.

As a member of the Boxwood (Buxaceae) Family, the sweet box earns its common name. Not sure the “box” part, but sweet it is through and through.

Our particular planting (Sarcococca hookeriana var humilis) originates from the western slopes of the Himalayas. ^[1]https://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/2076/himalayan-sweet-box/  Our sweet box plants, pictured below, started out in quart pots some 26 years ago and have since then behaved themselves quite nicely, with no help from us.

All year after year, they grace our yard with lush green foliage and early sweet blossoms.

Just like the ensuing chorus of woodland peepers, the scent of sweet box harbors the passing of winter into the glories of spring.
~Coleman Alderson, GardensAll.com

Growing Himalayan Sweet Box, (Sarcococca hookeriana var humilis)

Growing to about 18 inches tall and spreading to an 8 foot spread, our Sweet Box has thrived in moist soil and weathered droughts. Our S. hookeriana var, is located in partial shade and hasn’t required any maintenance other than a trim along the walkway and drive.

Unlike the invasion-prone Vinca minor (periwinkle) or Hedera helix (English ivy), this robust evergreen plant minds its boundaries. When trimming, its best to use hand pruners rather than shears or (yikes!) a power trimmer.

How to Grow Sweet Box

• FAMILY: Buxaceae
• SUN: Thrives in partial shade in zones 6-9
• DIFFICULTY: This is a low-to-no maintenance (trim if desired)
• GROWTH: Non-invasive, slow growing
• PLANT TYPE: Evergreen, shrub
• BERRIES: shiny black berries, purple-black berries
• FLOWERS: Tiny flowers with big fragrance
• PESTS:
  • Deer resistant
  • Few to no pest and insect problems

How Does Sweet Box Grow?

Taller, more shrub-like varieties may be found at the nursery, but we’re most impressed with the qualities of this modest yet first-class performer.

It grows in Zones 6 to 9, has few disease and insect problems, and is “deer resistant”. ^[2]https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=f519 We found our first plants at Plants Delight Nursery in North Carolina. These folks are exquisite growers and consummate professionals.

Sweet Box Benefits

Does Sweet Box Have Medicinal Benefits?

As far as medicinal value goes, sweet box is used in Chinese herbal medicine but more research and experimentation is needed for scientifically safe application and efficacy. However, studies are finding new and known steroidal alkaloid compounds in sweet box, Sarcococca beneficial for a number of applications, from antiviral to anti-cancerous.

There are some indications as to possible antibacterial and antiviral benefits as well as other uses in Chinese medicine, but professionally guided application is essential. Thus best to enjoy what the plant has to offer in the landscape and not yet the medicine cabinet.

If you like to dig into the scientific papers, here are a couple references to get you started. Meanwhile these sweet box studies are for medical research and should only be applied under appropriate medical supervision and recommendations.

Research on Medicinal Benefits of Sweet Box – Sarcococca hookeriana

• Steroidal alkaloids in sweet box stems and roots
• Cancer fighting properties against 5 human cancer cells
• Leishmanicidal (specific anti-parasitic), antibacterial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Streptococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas pallida.

Is Sweet Box Edible?

Many sources say that birds eat the sweet box berries, (though some say reluctantly so, as a last resort).

As for human consumption, we haven’t yet found validation or negation on whether the berries or leaves are edible or useful for humans. If you know from experience and/or research on this, please let us know!

A Versatile Shade Garden Performer

Fragrant Sweet Box uses include:

• Borders
• Erosion control
• Banks
• Mass planting
• Ground cover
• “Natural” woodland garden
• Scented gardens

The glossy deep green foliage also makes a fine backdrop for other colorful species such as red stemmed dogwoods (Cornus stolonifera), hostas, and bulbs.

In addition to the photos, check out this short video that highlights the features of the Fragrant Sweet Box. Enjoy!

Growing sweet box? Send us your favorites and photos and we’ll add them here. For another spring favorite, check out the flame azaleas.

You can buy sweet box, including the Sarcococca hookeriana from Amazon and likely from your local nurseries.

Keep on Growing!