YardRemake
Sweet Box (Sarcococca hookeriana)Foliage

Sweet Box

Sarcococca hookeriana

Sweet Box (Sarcococca hookeriana) is a slow-growing perennial, hardy in USDA zones 6-8, that matures to about 4-5 ft × 5-6 ft. It does best in part shade and full shade with medium water needs in well-drained and moist soil. Expect white blooms in spring. It stands up well to deer.

USDA zones
6-8
Sun
Part shade, Full shade
Water
Medium
Mature size
4-5 ft × 5-6 ft
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Soil
Well-drained, Moist
Bloom color
White
Bloom season
Spring
Tough against
Deer
Native to
Southeastern Tibet to eastern Himalayas

In the landscape

BorderHedgeNaturalizedSlopeCottageShade

Freeze survival

Will it survive your winters?

Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Sweet Box is hardy to about -10°F (estimated from USDA zone 6), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.

Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.

See the Sweet Box in your own yard

Upload a photo and our AI designs with real plants like this one — matched to your USDA zone.

More foliage