yardremake
A mature Sweet Box (Sarcococca hookeriana) growing in a residential garden bed

In the landscape

Border · Hedge · Naturalized · Slope · Cottage · Shade

Data sources

Missouri Botanical Garden, NC State Extension

Sweet Box

Sarcococca hookeriana · Perennial

Sweet Box 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

Will it survive your winters?

We score Sweet Box’s freeze-trouble range against the real coldest nights your area has recorded.

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.

More plants for your zone: Zone 6 · Zone 7 · Zone 8

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