Sarcococca Hookeriana 'Winter Gem®'

Planting

Dig a hole around twice the width of the rootball and deep enough for the plant to sit at the same level it was growing in its pot. Improve the soil with garden compost or well-rotted organic matter if needed. Gently loosen any tightly packed roots, position the plant, backfill and firm the soil before watering thoroughly.

Watering

Water regularly while your Sweet Box establishes, particularly during dry weather. Once established, plants growing in the ground generally need little additional watering except during prolonged dry spells. Container-grown plants will need more frequent watering.

Feeding

Apply a layer of garden compost or well-rotted organic matter around the base in spring, keeping it clear of the stems. Plants growing in pots may benefit from a balanced fertiliser during the growing season, particularly if growth is slow or the foliage becomes pale.

Light & Position

Christmas Box 'Winter Gem' grows particularly well in partial or full shade, making it ideal for north-facing gardens, sheltered borders and planting beneath taller shrubs. It can tolerate sunnier positions where the soil remains sufficiently moist, but shade is generally preferable. Choose somewhere close to a doorway or pathway to make the most of its winter fragrance.

Soil

Plant in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. 'Winter Gem' is adaptable to different soil types, including clay and chalk, provided drainage is adequate. Adding organic matter before planting can help improve soil structure and moisture retention.

Growing in Pots

This compact evergreen shrub is well suited to growing in containers. Choose a pot with drainage holes and fill with a suitable soil-based compost. Position in partial shade, water regularly and avoid allowing the compost to become completely dry. Repot into a larger container when the roots become crowded.

When to Prune

Christmas Box 'Winter Gem' naturally forms a dense, compact shrub and needs very little pruning. Once flowering has finished in late winter or early spring, remove any dead, damaged or misplaced stems. Lightly trim if needed to maintain its shape, avoiding heavy pruning that could reduce flowering the following winter.

Keeping Plants Healthy

This hardy evergreen needs little attention once established. Apply an organic mulch in spring to help conserve moisture and improve the soil. During prolonged dry spells, check that the soil has not become excessively dry, particularly around newly planted shrubs and those growing in pots.

Winter Flowers & Berries

Small white flowers open from reddish buds during winter, releasing a wonderfully sweet fragrance. These may be followed by glossy berries that change from red to black as they ripen. The berries are ornamental and should not be eaten.

Welcome Guests with Winter Fragrance

Plant 'Winter Gem' beside a front door, along a garden path or near a patio where its sweetly scented winter flowers can be enjoyed at close quarters. A pair of plants in containers can also make an attractive evergreen feature near an entrance.

Brighten Shady Borders

Use Sweet Box to bring year-round greenery to shaded borders and north-facing gardens. Its glossy foliage works beautifully alongside ferns, hellebores and other shade-loving plants, providing a permanent backdrop as seasonal flowers come and go.

Create Evergreen Ground Cover

Plant several shrubs together to gradually form a dense, low-growing evergreen covering beneath taller shrubs or in a woodland-style garden. Its naturally suckering growth habit helps fill gaps over time, while the winter flowers add an unexpected bonus of fragrance.

Potted Shrubs

Our shrubs are supplied in a range of pot sizes, from smaller 9cm pots through to larger specimens in 15 litre pots. The pot size refers to the container the plant is growing in rather than the overall height or spread of the plant.

What Will My Plant Look Like?

Plants are living products and their appearance naturally changes with the seasons. The height, shape, amount of foliage and stage of growth of the plant you receive may therefore differ from the photographs shown.

During spring and summer, plants may arrive in active growth, while those ordered later in the year may be changing colour, losing their leaves or entering dormancy. Deciduous shrubs can arrive with few or no leaves during autumn and winter. This is a normal part of their seasonal growth and they will produce fresh foliage when growth resumes.

Why Do Plants Vary in Size?

Even plants supplied in the same pot size can naturally vary in height, shape and fullness. Different varieties have different growth habits, and plants may also have been trimmed at the nursery to encourage healthy, well-branched growth. The eventual height and spread shown on the product page refers to the plant's mature size rather than the size you will receive.

When Your Plant Arrives

Unpack your shrub as soon as possible and check the compost, watering if it feels dry. If conditions are suitable, it can be planted into its final position. If you can't plant straight away, keep it in its pot in a sheltered position outdoors and water as needed to prevent the compost from drying out.

When Can I Plant?

Container-grown shrubs can be planted throughout the year when ground and weather conditions are suitable. Avoid planting into frozen or waterlogged ground, and take extra care with watering when planting during warm, dry weather.