Buy Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna online from Jacksons Nurseries

Sarcococca hookeriana Digyna

sweet box

£24.99
37549
16 item(s)
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At a Glance

Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna

Himalayan Sweet Box - Compact Fragrant Evergreen for Shade Gardens

Transform your shaded garden spaces with Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna, the exceptional compact evergreen shrub that delivers powerful winter fragrance and year-round structure to challenging growing conditions. This outstanding Himalayan sweet box variety combines intensely fragrant winter flowers with glossy dark green foliage and attractive purple stems, making it the perfect choice for gardeners seeking reliable performers in shade with exceptional winter interest.

 

Plant Details

  • Type: Hardy evergreen groundcover shrub
  • Mature Height: 1.5m 
  • Spread: 2m spread when established
  • Planting Season: March to May, September to November
  • Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -15 to -10 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H5)
  • Flowering Season: Late winter to early spring (December-March)
  • Berry Season: Black berries from summer, persisting through winter
  • Growth Rate: Moderate spreading by suckers
  • Lifespan: Long-lived with proper care
  • Native Range: Western China and Himalayan regions

 

Exceptional Winter Fragrance

The standout feature of var. digyna is its intensely fragrant white flowers that emit a powerful sweet fragrance during winter months. The fragrance is so strong that it can cut through the chilly winter air, providing sensory delight when little else is flowering in the garden.

Fine white flowers emit a strong sweet fragrance from late December to March, creating months of winter interest that makes this shrub invaluable for extending the garden's appeal throughout the darkest months of the year.

 

Compact Growth and Purple Stems

This variety is distinguished by its compact growth habit, reaching a maximum height of 1m, making it ideal for smaller gardens and container growing. The purple stems add an attractive architectural element that enhances the plant's ornamental value beyond its flowering season.

A slow spreading shrub that travels locally by suckers to form patches, allowing it to gradually create attractive groundcover colonies whilst maintaining its compact, manageable size.

 

Attractive Dark Green Foliage

A densely branching small to medium sized, evergreen shrub with dark green leaves that maintain their glossy appearance throughout the year. The leathery, lance-shaped leaves provide excellent year-round structure and backdrop for seasonal plantings.

The variety is distinct in having slender leaves compared to the species type, giving it a more refined appearance that works well in contemporary garden designs as well as traditional settings.

 

Glossy Black Berries

Following the fragrant flowers, attractive glossy black berries develop, providing additional seasonal interest and wildlife value. The white fragrant flowers are followed by black berries that persist well into winter, extending the ornamental appeal throughout the year.

The berries provide valuable food sources for birds during winter months whilst adding visual interest against the dark green foliage and purple stems.

 

Superior Shade Performance

Sarcococca plants are tough and resilient, thriving in deep and partial shade, making this variety invaluable for problem areas where other plants struggle to perform. Leaves lose lustre in full sun, so shade positions are preferred for optimal appearance.

The exceptional shade tolerance makes var. digyna perfect for north-facing borders, woodland gardens, and areas beneath mature trees where its compact habit and spreading nature create effective groundcover.

 

Excellent for Pollinator Gardens

Attracts bees making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens, providing valuable early nectar sources when few other plants are flowering. The winter flowering period makes it particularly important for supporting pollinators during the lean months.

Wildlife plant - nectar and pollen for insects, whilst the berries provide food for birds, making this shrub an excellent choice for wildlife-friendly gardens.

 

Versatile Garden Applications

Perfect for groundcover plantings, foundation work around buildings, and woodland garden settings. Makes a perfect addition to your patio pots due to its compact size and attractive year-round appearance.

Ideal for creating fragrant winter displays near pathways, seating areas, or entrance doors where the powerful fragrance can be fully appreciated during the winter months.

 

Growing Requirements

Soil and Position: Best grown in organically rich, acidic, moist, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Thrives in woodland conditions with consistent moisture and protection from harsh sun and winds.

Site Preparation: Improve soil with organic matter such as leaf mould or compost to create the rich, moisture-retentive conditions this variety prefers. Ensure adequate drainage whilst maintaining consistent moisture levels.

Planting Requirements: Space plants 60-80cm apart for groundcover effect, or plant individually as specimens. The spreading habit means fewer plants are needed to cover an area over time.

 

Seasonal Care and Management

Spring Care: Prune in spring after flowering to maintain attractive shape if required. Apply organic mulch around plants to conserve moisture and suppress weeds whilst feeding the soil.

Summer Management: Best with consistent moisture - water during dry periods to maintain optimal growth and appearance. The dense foliage helps suppress weeds once established.

Autumn Preparation: Continue watering if autumn is dry to prepare plants for their important winter flowering period. Remove any fallen leaves that might harbour pests or diseases.

Winter Enjoyment: This is the plant's showcase season - enjoy the powerful fragrance and delicate flowers throughout the winter months whilst watching for berry development.

 

Propagation and Establishment

Travels locally by suckers to form patches, making it easy to increase your stock by dividing established clumps. Established plants have some drought tolerance, though consistent moisture provides best results.

The suckering habit means the plant naturally expands its coverage area, creating attractive colonies that provide increasingly effective groundcover over time.

 

Problem-Free Growing

Pests & Diseases - none of significance, making this variety exceptionally low-maintenance once established. The hardy nature and problem-free growth make it ideal for gardeners seeking reliable, attractive plants.

The lack of significant pest and disease issues means minimal intervention is required, allowing you to enjoy the plant's benefits without ongoing maintenance concerns.

 

Heritage and Breeding Excellence

Native to the Himalayan regions and western China, var. digyna represents the compact, refined form of this excellent species. A wonderfully compact and free-flowering selection that combines the best characteristics of the species in a more manageable size.

The variety's natural habitat in mountainous regions contributes to its exceptional hardiness and ability to thrive in challenging conditions whilst providing outstanding ornamental value.

 

Companion Planting

Excellent companion for other shade-loving plants such as ferns, hostas, and spring bulbs. The evergreen structure provides year-round backbone whilst the winter fragrance complements early spring flowers and creates seasonal interest.

Plant alongside other winter-interest shrubs such as mahonias and witch hazels to create a garden that provides fragrance and colour throughout the darkest months.

 

Long-Term Garden Investment

Plant your Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna and discover why this compact Himalayan sweet box has become essential for gardeners seeking reliable, low-maintenance shrubs that excel in shade whilst providing exceptional winter fragrance, attractive purple stems, and year-round groundcover value that transforms challenging garden areas into fragrant, wildlife-friendly spaces.

Buying Shrubs from Jacksons Nurseries

At Jacksons Nurseries we sell a variety of shrubs both evergreen and deciduous with a variety of flowering times throughout the year. At certain times of the year our shrubs you buy from us may not look like the images shown on our website when deciduous leaves have fallen, the shrub has finished flowering or has been trimmed back.

Some leaves on evergreen shrubs can be damaged in winter by frost or harsh winds but in spring new leaves will readily replace those damaged. This is quite normal on many evergreen varieties and is preferable to plants grown with excessive protection that show cold shock once planted out and establish less satisfactory initially.

Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.

Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.

* Please Note: Shrubs in 20 litre pots and above might require a pallet delivery starting at £79.99 per pallet. Depending on the exact pot size and height it may be possible to get approximately 5 plants per pallet at no extra cost. The maximum height we can dispatch on a pallet is 2.0m, this includes the height of the pallet and pot.

Shrubs are deciduous or evergreen woody plants, and often provide fragrant flowers, berries and foliage. They are good for structural framework, and they can provide a wonderful shelter and food source for wildlife.

Planting and Conditions

Container grown shrubs can be grown at any time of year. It is a little known fact that shrubs planted in the autumn and winter will be easier to look after than those planted in the spring and summer, because they will have time to establish and become hardy in the cooler months.

Plant the shrub at the same depth as it was in its original pot. Planting too deeply can result in root and stem rot.

One of the biggest causes of death in new shrubs is drought stress, so keep it well watered until it’s established.

Make sure you loosen the soil prior to planting. Most shrubs are tolerant of most soil types as long as it is fairly well draining.

Most shrubs will grow happily in containers, but they will be much more demanding on feeding and watering than shrubs in the ground would be. They will also need potting on every couple of years so that they don’t suffocate or become stunted in their pot.

Aftercare and Pruning

Once established, shrubs generally do not require much water. However, at first they need careful, frequent watering and should not be left to dry out.

Shrubs in the ground are generally not demanding and in most cases, annual feeding with general purpose fertilizer will suffice. Shrubs in containers may need more feeding; usually from early spring until late summer.

Shrubs also benefit from mulching in order to supress weeds, conserve moisture and provide vital nutrients. Mulch also greatly improves soil conditions. Shrubs can be mulched in late winter, after fertiliser has been applied, but it can be mulched through autumn to late spring as long as the ground is damp.

All shrubs benefit from dead-heading once spent flowers become apparent. Rhododendrons and Lilac especially benefit from the removal of dead flowers.

Some shrubs may show signs of reverted growth or ‘sporting’. This is where random shoots of different leaves associated with the plant’s parentage begin to appear. Most commonly this is where plants with variegated leaves sprout pure green growths instead of variegated ones.

To control reversion, remove reverted shoots promptly to discourage them. Reverted shoots are usually much more vigorous than the variegated ones, and thus should be completely pruned out and cut back into wood containing variegated foliage.

Potential Issues

Although shrubs are usually very robust garden plants, they can sometimes start to decline with no apparent or obvious reason.

This will start with browning leaves, which could indicate plant stress due to lack of water or waterlogging, an establishment failure or, in the worst case scenario, honey fungus. Another cause of leaf browning is a high salt content in the soil. This could be a natural occurrence, especially if you live near the ocean, or it could be from over fertilisation.

To remedy a high salt content, cut back on fertiliser and step up your watering regime for the next few weeks. If you live by the ocean, this will be harder to remedy—but stepping up your watering will help to wash some of the salt away all the same. 

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Buy Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna online from Jacksons Nurseries 5 Litre pot
In stock
£24.99
Buy Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna online from Jacksons Nurseries 2-3 Litre pot
In stock
£14.99

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