Leaf
Krzysztof Golik, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Christmas box
Sarcococca confusa Sealy
Also known as: Sweet box
Family: Buxaceae
0.5 to 1.5 m tall
Shaded borders, under tree cover and edgings; excellent in shady and rather dry situations
Flowering: December – February
Shade
Part shade
Hardy to about -15°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its flowers are so small they are barely noticed, but their scent, released in the depths of winter, can be smelt from several metres away.
🍃 Leaves
Evergreen, small, ovate, pointed, very glossy dark green
🌸 Flowers
Tiny, white, very fragrant, in midwinter
🍎 Fruits
Small glossy black berries in spring
🪵 Bark
Slender stems, brown-green
🗺️ Distribution
Native to China
🐝 Value for pollinators
Very fragrant winter flowering, one of the few nectar sources for insects active in midwinter
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted in a border or bed in shade for its powerful winter scent despite tiny flowers
⚠️ Possible toxicity
Not documented as significantly toxic
🌿 Other Buxaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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