Evergreens in tubs can look so so boring. How many times have you shuddered seeing tubs of dusty garish phormiums or the ever so plastic looking Eleaeagnus pungens Maculata on either side of a friend's front door.
I am often asked for shrubs to grow in pots for winter interest. My answer is nearly always Sarcococca. This delightful evergreen winter flowering shrub (sometimes called "The Winter Flowering Box") covers itself in small, highly scented, white flowers from December to March.
Sarcococca likes full shade and is happy growing in any not too dry soil. Slow growing it is well suited to pot culture. Perfect in a couple of pots on either side of a North door where the delicious scent of the flowers will greet you in all your entries and exits.
Sarcoccoca foliage is also a great delight. The foliage is elegant - not too broad and pointed. The leaves of many winter evergreens are just too big and clumsy to look good in containers.
But never ty to grow Sarcococca in sun - in summer the leaves will become pallid and fall off - not a pretty sight!
Hi Michael
ReplyDeletePlease could you advise which species of Sarcococca look particularly good in pots? Is the picture of the confusa? Thanks, Louise
Hi
ReplyDeleteI always grow Sarcococca confusa in pots because I liike it its open habit. It can eventually grow to 2 metres tall but is easily restrained by pruning and can indeed be clipped. There is a dwarf variety Sarcococca hookeriana var digyna which theoretically should not grow more than 60cm tall but I think it is a bit congested and stunted looking.