Sweet Box Evergreen Shrubs

Hardiness

• Fragrant sweet box shrubs can grow successfully in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9. The USDA defines zones based on their climates. Areas in zones 7 to 9 include portions of Oklahoma, Georgia, Virginia, Florida, Texas and Arkansas. Himalayan sweet box can also work in zone 6, which includes parts of Missouri, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

Growth Rate and Size

• Sweet box shrubs grow at a slow pace. Fragrant sweet box (Sarcococca ruscifolia) grows 3 to 5 feet tall and wide. Himalayan sweet box (Sarcococca hookeriana var. "Humilis") reaches a height of only 1 to 2 feet but can spread up to 8 feet wide.

Flowers and Resistance

• The fragrant and Himalayan sweet boxes produce fragrant white flowers in early spring. Fragrant sweet box delivers bright red fruit later in the season, while the fruit on the Himalayan sweet box is a dark, bluish-black hue. Monrovia classifies both plants as deer resistant.

Soil and Uses

• Sweet box prefers acidic, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. North Carolina Cooperative Extension classifies Himalayan sweet box as a ground cover and suggests using it as a filler or background plant. Monrovia says fragrant sweet box is an ideal choice for areas you want to hide, such as vents and ugly spots around your foundation. Plant it near windows, doors and patios so you can soak in its spring fragrance.