Sarcococca

Family. Southeast Asia.

Origin. Buxaceae.

Description. Sarcococca is a low, multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with abundantly branching stems. The leaves are dark green, glossy, simple, narrowly lanceolate. The leaf blades are folded along the central vein. The flowers are small, white, with long thin petals, collected in panicles, have a pleasant aroma, but do not add any special charm to the plant. The plant produces round, glossy fruits - berries that become black or scarlet when ripe. It is interesting that on each bush you can find both unopened buds and quite ripe berries.

Height. Up to 1 m in the natural environment, in culture it can be regulated by pruning.

Growing at home

Temperature conditions

The bush can be kept at a temperature of 18–22 °C throughout the year, but during the dormant period it is better to provide a cool room with a temperature of 10–12 °C.

Lighting

Tolerates a wide range of light conditions - from deep shade to light shading on summer days with adequate watering and air humidity.

Care

Trim long stems to maintain a compact shape after flowering. Pinch the tips of young shoots to form side branches. Remove old and damaged branches regularly to keep the plant looking tidy. 

Substrate

Loose soil with an acidic pH and high nutrient content. A mixture of leaf humus, peat, garden soil and well-rotted manure is suitable. To improve drainage, coarse river sand is added to the substrate.

Feeding

During the warm season, when the sarcococca develops and spends energy on flowering and fruiting, it is fed with water-soluble fertilizers every 2 weeks.

Flowering time

Early spring, but flowering is not of interest.

Air humidity

There is no need to spray the leaves - the bush tolerates dry conditions well, but it is worth remembering that keeping it in too dry an atmosphere can lead to an invasion of pests, such as spider mites.

Soil moisture

Watering should be regular during the growing season; in the fall, the frequency of watering is reduced and in the winter months, if the plant is kept cool, the substrate is dried to half the depth between waterings.

Transplant

Mature specimens need to be repotted approximately every 2 years, in the spring.

Reproduction

Often propagated vegetatively, using semi-lignified stem cuttings. Seeds.

Pests and diseases

Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight leads to burns on the leaves.

Of the harmful insects, the flower can be annoyed by spider mites and aphids.