Sarcococca Humilis (Sweet Box) flowering in our Aberdeen garden in February.

(Sarcococca Hookeriana Var. Humilis) is well worthy of consideration for your garden. Well it doesn’t exactly jump out at you but hey any plant which flowers in the month of February has to be a gardeners friend.

To be quite honest, this shrub has been in the main border of the back garden for a number of years and I had never paid much attention to it.  Well not until the delightful Edith Hope, a lady with the charm of a bygone age did sing its praises when I at one time mentioned said plant.

Whatever you do don’t place it in the middle of the border where it is difficult to gain access. Plant it near the path edge where you can admire the tiny blooms and if your senses are more attuned than mine you can take in the unexpected fragrance on a Winters day.

Although this evergreen shrub will grow well enough in a sunny position it will also thrive in the most dense of shade. The only other evergreen shrub to my knowledge which grows as well in such shade is the Aucuba,(Spotted Laurel).

Sarcococca from Western China has dark green glossy leaves and small white beautifully fragrant flowers, which have pink tips whilst in bud. The flowers start to open in some areas of the UK from December and continue through till March, followed by small black fruits.  Well here in Aberdeen expect to first see the blooms in February, to be quite honest I would be surprised to see them in bloom in the month of December anywhere in the UK.

Hardiness – Fully Hardy

Height – 60cm/2ft

Spread – 90cm/3ft

Position – Full Sun/Partial/Full Shade, in Moist Well Drained Soil

Common Name – Sweet Box

Flowering – December till March.

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Just a little stroll through the back garden as it was in Summer of last year.

Coming through the garden gate from the front of the house.

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The patio will hopefully get more use this Summer after last years miserable weather.

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Just beyond the patio the Rhododendrons gave a good show.

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The wee garden pond which is in the main area of the back garden.

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The main area of the back garden planted in a manner which is easy to keep and looks good with little effort, well reasonably easy.

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A little further up the path we have the round garden. A few years ago I could not get the grass to grow in this area.  Turned out that just too much shade was being cast with conifers which had become too overgrown.  All is now well after the major cut back of offending specimens.

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A short distance up the path and through a green wooden gate from the round garden lies the Secret and Woodland Garden. Its hard to have favourite areas of the garden, I may say one thing and then change my mind in an instance.  However I am very fond of this area.

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