Floral fragrance is likely the primary asset of sweet box, Sarcococca ruscifolia. However, the splendidly glossy and evergreen foliage is as appealing as that of any of the various boxwoods. It is darker and richer green, with orderly arrangement on nimble and arching stems. Individual leaves are small but larger than boxwood leaves, and with pointier tips.
Sweet box blooms during winter, with deliciously fragrant but tiny pale white flowers that are not much to see. They are unlikely to get credit for their impressive fragrance without close investigation for its source. Vigorous plants may produce a few rich maroon berries that contrast delightfully with the rich green foliage. Cut stems work well with cut flowers.
Because it is naturally an understory species, sweet box not only tolerates partial shade, but actually prefers it. Harsh exposure fades its foliage. The dense foliage on wiry stems adapts to low hedging. It is better with alternating cane pruning to remove old stems and promote fresh basal growth. Overgrown specimens respond quite favorably to coppicing. They grow to three feet high.
Tony Tomeo 
Sweet box is in bloom here too and, though it is not spectacular, the fragrance is a great asset in the garden now. I have several different kinds around the garden but the main planting is in a circle under some hazels. They were all grown from seedlings under an ancient S. confusa that was 1.5m high and wide. They are on a slight slope and those at the base, where it is wetter, are struggling. As the hazels have grown and provided some shade they are looking more happy and are deeper green. I have seen it grown as a neat hedge, clipped in late summer, about 40cm high. Flowering is reduced but it is an interesting choice for dry shade.
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Sarcococca ruscifolia has worked well as foundation planting for one of the lodges and one of the office buildings here because of its tolerance to the shade of the tall building, and the dry conditions below the eaves of the lodge. I was not so aware of its tolerance for dry conditions. Is Sarcococca as popular as Sarcococca ruscifolia? I have never seen it here.
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Any ideas for fragrant plants for shade? Our hot Texas sun grows some funky smells. When I would walk outside in Colorado: I would smell pine. It was glorious. Here, I walk outside and it smells like someone needs a shower, no joke. I’m pulling some shrubs near my front door, that area is amended and has has irrigation. Anything you can think of that would consistently smell great would be welcome. I may have to resort to flowers, but I’d rather try and start with foliage (mint family not included). I recently bought a Vick’s plant (Plectranthus tomentosa). But it’s small and needs more sun than this area has. Vaporub would smell better than what I have naturally!
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Gardenia and Daphne; I almost never recommend either of them, and was hesitant to add them to our landscape, but I am told that they are happier in Texas. Of course, I would also recommend inquiring about them locally. I know nothing about your climate or soil. The reason that I do not recommend them here is that they prefer more humidity (although the happiest gardenias here are weirdly in dry situations). Both perform well within our landscapes because they happen to be unusually humid. Most climates here, particularly those that I am familiar with, are chaparral climates. Sweet box is worth inquiring about as well, and you may want to inquire about other species of Sarcococca that I are more popular outside of coastal California. I do not remember their names.
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Much appreciated! I’ll contact my local extension office too. Nobody wants a big whiff of stinky scents when they walk out their door! I wish I could have it both ways: pine + Texas. I’ll have to see what I can come up with!
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Brent (is such an idiot and) wanted to grow black flowers back in the early 1990s. In the process, he acquired voodoo lily, which is pollinated by flies, . . . . so it smells like, . . . . what flies like. A daphne grows there now.
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I’m chuckling. That’s a good story!
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