Plant Details

Small, evergreen, shade-loving shrubs are hard to find in the Northwest, but this sweet box fits the bill with its fragrant white flowers in early spring and blue-black berries in summer. This plant may also be used as a ground cover.

Sweet box grows best in open to deep shade in locations protected from hot afternoon sun. It prefers a rich moist to well-drained soil, but will tolerate sandy locations and clay if the drainage is adequate. Once established it is drought tolerant. It is slow to become established, often taking a couple of years to settle in. Little pruning is needed other than the occasional removal of dead or broken branches. In severe and sudden cold snaps it can defoliate, but it will leaf out in spring.

(Source: Great Plant Picks)