Week 2 already and I have decided to continue with the theme of winter interest in the garden.
The Sarcococca (you may know some varieties as Christmas Box) is an evergreen shrub which is slow growing and bushy. Unlike last week’s Cornus with it’s coloured stems, the emphasis with this shrub is it’s heavily scented winter flower. Again, it is suitable for both private and commercial planting. (To get an idea of it’s effect, go no further than the right hand side to the entrance to Stewarts Country Garden Centre.)
This shrub originates from Himalaya. The leaves are glossy and the heavily scented flowers are mainly delicate and white although there are variations like hookeriana var.digyna which has a pink tinged flower and unusual purple stems. Flowers are normally profuse between December and up to April depending on variety. The shrub ‘s height can vary from around 40cm (humilus) to 120cm (confusa) so their uses can be as diverse as an edging (similar to the more common box hedge) ground cover or more structural amongst other planting.
Things to note:
· Will grow in any well drained soil, most in sun or partial shade.
· Great for their scented flowers for winter interest.
· Plant them by a door or along a pathway to take advantage of the scent. Also plant smaller varieties in pots that can be moved to doorways etc when they are at their flowering best.
· Slow to medium growing.
· Pruning is not necessary except to tidy any damaged stems or to trim it to suit the space available.
Perhaps this under used shrub may have a space in your garden. It would certainly add some welcome interest and you may spur others on to give it a try.
The Sarcococca (you may know some varieties as Christmas Box) is an evergreen shrub which is slow growing and bushy. Unlike last week’s Cornus with it’s coloured stems, the emphasis with this shrub is it’s heavily scented winter flower. Again, it is suitable for both private and commercial planting. (To get an idea of it’s effect, go no further than the right hand side to the entrance to Stewarts Country Garden Centre.)
This shrub originates from Himalaya. The leaves are glossy and the heavily scented flowers are mainly delicate and white although there are variations like hookeriana var.digyna which has a pink tinged flower and unusual purple stems. Flowers are normally profuse between December and up to April depending on variety. The shrub ‘s height can vary from around 40cm (humilus) to 120cm (confusa) so their uses can be as diverse as an edging (similar to the more common box hedge) ground cover or more structural amongst other planting.
Things to note:
· Will grow in any well drained soil, most in sun or partial shade.
· Great for their scented flowers for winter interest.
· Plant them by a door or along a pathway to take advantage of the scent. Also plant smaller varieties in pots that can be moved to doorways etc when they are at their flowering best.
· Slow to medium growing.
· Pruning is not necessary except to tidy any damaged stems or to trim it to suit the space available.
Perhaps this under used shrub may have a space in your garden. It would certainly add some welcome interest and you may spur others on to give it a try.
