Sarcococca ruscifolia

Sarcococca ruscifolia, also known as the Ruscus-leaved Sweet Box, is a beautiful shrub native to central China. Bushy and dense, it has evergreen foliage that is shiny green and highly decorative throughout the year. It reveals its presence in winter, when few plants catch the gardener's attention, attracting them with the delicate fragrance of its small clusters of milky white flowers. Perfectly hardy and requiring very little maintenance, it can be combined with all kinds of plants, even in small gardens, and is equally at home in urban or rural settings. It is easy to grow in shady areas with non-calcareous soil.

Sarcococca ruscifolia belongs to the Buxaceae family, a close relative of Boxwood, and originates from the Chinese province of Hubei, in a mountainous region where it inhabits wooded slopes. It gets its species name from the resemblance of its leaves to those of Butcher's Broom (Ruscus). Introduced to Europe in the 19th century, it has only appeared in Western gardens since the 1990s. It is a small, dense shrub with a globular habit and arching stems, which will not exceed 1 m (3.3 ft) in all directions after many years, as its growth is quite slow. Its evergreen and leathery foliage is dark green on the upper side, lighter underneath. The leaves are elliptical and acuminate, like those of Butcher's Broom. The flowers appear in January, clustered in small axils along the branches. They are no more than 3 mm to 5 mm (0.1 in to 0.2 in) long, have no petals, and only show well-developed white stamens. This highly fragrant flowering continues throughout February, delivering a sweet scent with notes of vanilla. The fruits are 1 cm (0.4 in) ovoid drupes, particularly decorative with their blood-red colour and shiny surface. They become almost black in autumn.

This shrub is very hardy and grows slowly, but, like dwarf conifers, it knows how to blend in during the summer and structure small spaces in winter. It requires little care. It has the advantage of bringing a touch of spring to the garden as early as January. It can be cultivated in flower beds, as well as in woodland areas, low hedges, or ground covers. For example, place it behind a low wall, near a frequently used path, or even close to the home or under a window to fully enjoy its fragrance. It only dislikes calcareous soils and can handle competition from tree roots in woodland areas. It is perfect for filling an undergrowth with ferns, witch hazels, skimmias, aucubas, or azaleas. It can even be grown in pots.