Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis
Common name: 
Himalayan Sarcococca
Himalayan Sweet Box
Pronunciation: 
sar-ko-KOK-a hook-er-e-A-na HU-mi-lis
Family: 
Buxaceae
Genus: 
Sarcococca
Synonyms: 
Sarcococca humilis
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf evergreen groundcover/shrub, 18-24 inches (45-63 cm) high, stoloniferous.  Leaves simple, alternate (occasionally opposite), oblong to narrow lanceolate, 5-9 cm long, slender-pointed, entire, lustrous dark green above.  Flowers off-white, lack petals, 12 mm long, fragrant, hidden by leaves, open in winter; male flowers (towards shoot tips) have pink anthers, female flowers with 2 styles.  Fruit 6-8 mm diam., globose, shiny black.
  • Part shade to shade, off color in full sun.  Prefers moist, well-drained soil, high in organic matter.  Good ground cover in shade.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 5      Native to western China.
  • hookeriana: after Sir. Joseph Hooker;   (sometimes spelled hookerana),    humilis: low growing.
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: front of the Valley Library
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  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • leaves

    leaves

  • leafy shoots

    leafy shoots

  • shoots, comparison

    shoots, comparison

  • leaves and flower

    leaves and flower

  • flowers

    flowers

  • flowers, comparison

    flowers, comparison