Sweet Box (Sarcococca) — Shrubs
Sarcococca confusa
Happy in shade, moderate watering — hardy through cold winters.
- Plant out
- Apr
- In flower
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
- Sun
- Shade
- Water
- Medium
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Hardiness
- H5
- Season
- winter
- Height
- 100–150 cm
- Spacing
- 150 cm
- Pets
- Toxic to pets
- Bee friendly
- Bee friendly
Growing notes
Grows to 1-1.5 metres. Space about 100-150cm apart. In flower Jan-Mar.
Toxic to pets
Sweet box is grown for its scent and its berries are not for eating: it is rated low toxicity, but a person who eats the berries may get a mild stomach upset. Dogs and cats that eat the leaves or berries can be unwell. If a child eats the berries, get medical advice; if a pet does, ring your vet.
→ NHS 111 for a person; your vet or the Animal PoisonLine for an animal