Plant of the Week: Sarcoccoa ruscifolia

Can we say Sarcococca ruscifolia five times real fast? Or at all? It took me awhile. (Sar kuh koh' kuh roo sih foh' leah yuh). 

Or you could just say "Sweet Box" but where's the fun in that? I won't go into the plethora of reasons why botanical Latin is critical to proper plant identification but will suffice it to say, if you're a serious gardener, you should strive to embrace it, despite its esoteric nature, pun intended. 

Sarcococca is a winter blooming, perfuming machine! A few days ago, I was surprised when I walked past it and caught a whiff of its delicious perfume. I wasn't quite expecting it yet because for the past few years cold temperatures have postponed its bloom by as much as a month. But this year's temperatures have been normal so it's doing its typical January thing. 

Sarcococca ruscifolia in bud

I discovered Sarcococca in 2002 while in the throes of my fragrant plant phase. It sounded too good to be true: winter blooming, evergreen shrub, happy to grow in dry shade. In all the time I've had my plants, they've never been bothered by pests, including deer (knock on wood) and on warmer winter days intrepid bees will find their way to the flowers for what I can only imagine is a sweet cocktail.

Although the somewhat demure flowers wouldn't win any designer awards, the branches can be snipped and brought inside for a fragrant, albeit mostly green bouquet. As I write this, I'm enjoying its perfume in a vase on the table next to me. This particular bouquet has been here for almost a week and is still as intense as the day I brought it in. 

Eventually the pollinated flowers will form plump, black berries as you can see above. If the conditions are right, the berries will drop, germinate and make new plants. I've also had success in rooting the aforementioned cut branches by leaving them in water (refreshed every week) for a few months.

My first Sarcococca shrub, planted in 2002, about two and a half feet tall and four feet wide.

That same plant while in full bloom.

There are a few other species of Sarcococca out there. Most notably, S. humilis a dwarf, slow growing plant that in my experience, bloomed much later. With a small garden and limited space and because I wasn't as thrilled with its performance, it went buh-bye years ago. However, it is purportedly more tolerant of cold winters, (winter-hardy to Zone 6, -10 °F) so if you're gardening in a colder climate, here you go. 

Sarcococca is a fairly common plant, so, gardening peeps if you're growing it, is yours blooming yet? And if you're not growing it, why not?

It's Almost Over

Can you believe 2018 is almost over? The years just seem to fly by, don't they? We had some 28-30ish degree nights a week or so ago but now we're back to normal. In fact, just now, as I write this, I saw a honeybee outside. Nature is so resilient. 

So here's what's blooming:

The first blossom on this Camellia. Isn't is gorgeous?

Camellia sasanqua 'Shishi-Gashira'

I have this Rhodochiton under cover and it's still got a few blooms. I hope to overwinter it.

Rhodochiton astrosa 'Purple Bells'

There are still a few flowers on this Mimulus. It looks cute with the variegated Ficus, doesn't it? Both are in pots.

Mimulus x aurantiacus 'Cherry' and Ficus pumila 'Variegata'

This fragrant pelargonium is still blooming too. 

Pelargonium 'Filbert'

 More blossoms and buds on the Correa!

Correa 'Dusky Bells'

And this one too:

Correa 'Ivory Bells'

A few, rather tattered flowers on my Abutilon:

Abutilon cv.

In the front of the house by my main door, I have a large container with year round interest. The Viburnum tinus is so happy.

Viburnum tinus pink buds!

Viburnum tinus pink buds turning white before they open to white flowers.

Viburnum tinus

Speaking of Viburnum, 'Pink Dawn' is also happily doing its winter thing:

Viburnum bodnantense 'Pink Dawn'

The few common Primula that I have are all starting to bloom. This one has been in the ground for several years. Not my favorite color but hey, this time of year, all flowers are welcome.

Primula japonica

I was pleased as punch to see the first blossoms on my Chimonanthus. Check out all those buds! The fragrance is UH MAZE ING!

Chimonanthus praecox

Still more blooms on this Clematis:

Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles'

 And this Clematis is just finishing with a few more blossoms opening:

Clematis florida 'Sieboldi'

Still blooming is this Lewisia with more buds popping up:

Lewisia cotyledon 'Elise'

Nandina--such a common plant during the summer but look how it shines in the winter!

Nandina domestica 'Moyer's Red'

The dwarf Nandina planted by my patio pond, even without the berries is equally vibrant this time of year.

Nandina domestica 'Wood's Dwarf'

The Sarcococca isn't quite there yet but it's still early. Come January it will be alive with blossoms.

Sarcococca ruscifolia

And also full of promise are the Daphne: 

Daphne odora 'Marianni'

And the green-leaf Daphne is even closer to blooming:

Daphne odora

 She's going to be beautiful!

Daphne odora

Here are some wide shots of my garden. Be warned, it looks pretty sad these days. I'm behind on mulching and I don't cut back most of my perennials until spring.

The patio pond

Don't you love the "winter interest" here? Not so much. The banana-leaf monster is here again!

But I will focus on the green. Here are a few leafy lovelies:

Windmill Palm grows much slower in a pot. This ones been here for ten years.

Windmill Palm -- Trachycarpus fortunei

Umbrella Pine -- Sciadopitys verticillata with a variegated Boxwood

And finally, here is a little hardy cactus I bought a few years ago from plant lady Trina Studebaker.

It's getting bigger. I am hoping it will flower someday. But for now I'm just glad I've been able to keep it alive.  

Opuntia

I hope there are bits of joy in your garden too!

Craving Green

Hi Peeps. Am I the only one craving green right now? I am pretty sure we're all missing our gardens, all the more so thanks to our seriously nasty winter. Cold, cold, cold! 

I took these photos before the January weather assault. Mostly they're just moss but I love moss. It's green and it doesn't ask anything of me. 

Cyclamen hederifolium

The continuing twenty-something temperatures (F) have stalled the winter bloomers. But there is hope.

Sarcococca ruscifolia

Daphne odora 'Marianni'

Galanthus nivalis

We're getting closer to spring. Hallelujah!