Fragrant Sweet Box

Sarcococca ruscifolia

$74⁹⁹

In Stock
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Plant Size

#2 Container

Product variants

Plant Sentry™

Delivery and Shipping

Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Highlights

Fragrant Sweet Box highlights at a glance!

Specifications

Brand

Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name

Sarcococca ruscifolia
Growing Zones

7-9
Mature Height

4 - 5 feet
Mature Spread

1 - 4 feet
Sun Exposure

Full Shade, Partial Shade
Moisture

Moderate to Low
Soil

Well-Drained
Growth Rate

Slow
Flower Color

White
Fall Color

Evergreen
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Fragrant

Yes
Pruning Time

After Flowering
Bloom Period

Late Spring

Growing Zones 7-9

Find Your Growing Zone!

Finally! An easy-to-grow, resilient broadleaf evergreen that can handle the infamous garden location —Dry Shade!

Well, good news! Take a look at this variety of Fragrant Sweet Box Bush (Sarcococca ruscifolia)! It will live happily in these tough conditions, look great, and produce scented flowers, plus sport glossy pointed green leaves that stick around all year round!

What a joy! The Fragrant Sweetbox will give you weeks of bloom that smell like Hyacinths! The pollinators will love you for planting this shrub! It is densely covered in lush deep green foliage that makes it a nice backdrop to flowers.

Landscape Application:

Dry shade can be tough on plants, and we all have one of those spots! You know the one, under the old tree in the backyard, that corner of your yard where the sprinkler system misses, or in the side yard between your house and the neighbors. Anywhere you have dry shade, it can be a challenge to find a pretty plant that will thrive.

Fragrant Sweet Box is a great plant for all those shaded locations around your landscape even if it isn't dry shade! Perfect for the part shade foundation plantings, around those HVAC units or to conceal vents, utilities, footings, or other unsightly spots around your home or business.

Add a dappled shade hedge of these 4 - 5 feet tall and up to 4 foot wide shrubs for year-round privacy around seating areas and outdoor garden rooms beneath the canopy of large trees or where your hedge will receive less than 5-6 hours of sun a day.

Glossy Pointed Broadleaf Evergreen Shrubs
Fragrant White Flowers In Late Winter/Early Spring
Great Evergreen For Shade & Dry Shade Locations
Very Easy To Grow & Full
Great Privacy & Screening Hedges, Hide Eyesores & Evergreen Specimens

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Loving part shade and dappled shade in cooler climates, warmer growing zones can grow these shrubs in full shade, as long as they have at least 4 hours of sun or filtered sunlight a day. Any well-drained soil type works for these plants and new shrubs need consistent moisture access until established. A 3-4 inch deep layer of mulch around their roots to support their growth and keep moisture in the soil more consistently, especially in those dry shade locations.

Sarcococca are tough plants! Sweet Box is resistant to both deer and rabbits and is disease-resistant, too! This water-wise variety won't need extra care. It is easy to grow and easy to maintain! Prune after the flowers fade should you need to tidy up your plant's form or alter its size.

Full Shade to Partial Sun/Part Shade Locations
Well-Drained Soil
Moderate Moisture Needs
Water-Wise & Tolerates Dry Shade Once Established!
Prune After Flowers Fade
Deer and Rabbit Resistant

The Fragrant Sweet Box is the perfect evergreen for dry shade! Order a Fragrant Sweet Box from NatureHills.com today! You'll be so glad to get rid of that ugly eyesore with a beautiful, fragrant broadleaf evergreen shrub!