Sarcococca hookeriana 'Purple Gem'Sweet Box, Christmas Box

An improvement on Sarcococca ‘Purple Stem’, ‘Purple Gem’ has an even bushier habit than its predecessor, plus deep purple-red stems and long, shiny, dark green leaves. Sporting denser foliage than other varieties, its neat dome of glossy, lance-shaped leaves provides evergreen interest throughout the year and provides a good backdrop for winter bedding. It is one of the few shrubs that thrives in full shade, providing the soil is reliably moist. It can even be used as a low, evergreen hedge. From January to March, exactly when little is happening in the garden, Sarcococca ‘Purple Gem’ will lure you outside with the sweet, spicy scent of its tiny white flowers with purple tips. The flowers are followed by glossy black berries.

If you like your garden to deliver some aromatherapy, you can’t possibly miss out on the intense winter perfume of Sarcococca. The spidery flowers are not at all showy, but they certainly pack a punch when it comes to fragrance. They also provide a useful early source of food for beneficial pollinators emerging from hibernation. Height: 75cm (30in). Spread: 50cm (20in).

Plant height and spread is seasonal therefore we list by pot size rather than a defined plant size. The height and spread of the plant delivered will vary depending on the season, meaning arrival images are an indication only.