Sarcococca confusa

As January fades the heavy scent from Sarcococca confusa intensifies. A dense growing evergreen preferring the woodland edge but happy in deep shade also.

Listed as origin unknown, this is one of the Sarcococca‘s we grow of which we do not have representative wild collected material.

Walking into the Garden through the east gate towards the glasshouses you will appreciate the heavy scent drifting on the late winter air. On some days when the temperature rises around 5oC the scent is so heavy you could almost cut a block of it out of the atmosphere. A further group can be found in the copse.

Sarcococca confusa

Tiny white flowers are set in the alternating leaf axils. Each group comprising separate male and female flowers. The anthers dwarfing the stigma and style which nestle beneath. Last years growth continues to bear the shiny black berries. Perfectly shaped glossy black with the vestiges of the styles apparent, 8mm in diameter these contain a single seed.

As a mass it grows to 1.6 metres in height and with an equal spread. Young growth develops with robust shiny dark green leaves, light green on the reverse.