Re: Sarcococca

Nancy, I bought a little pot of Sarcococca from Nancy Goodwin down in NC about 3
years ago. This is a zone 7 plant, so I have it in a sheltered spot that gets
virtually NO sun. It's been doing great in dry shade on the east side of the
house and has increased 6 or 8fold. As I recall, it even bloomed last spring. It
is really more of a groundcover, but the shiny evergreen leaves are really
pretty. I think it will need dividing next year. :-) It is a better doer than
the English boxwood I started as cuttings maybe 4 years ago. They are still very
small. Maybe they will take off in a year or two, but meanwhile it is like
watching paint dry. Last summer I bought a larger boxwood (don't remember what
kind) and it looks just the same as it did last year. Not dead, but no progress
either. I love the boxwood, but more people in zone 6 should try Sarcococca if
they can find it and give it a sheltered location.

Two other plants that are good for dry shade are European ginger and the various
Epimediums (Naylor Creek has an interesting assortment). In the same area I have
a CV with orange flowers in spring that is adorable, and the leaves look good
all year. I forget the name but you can find it at Naylor's website.

Keep us posted on what you decide to do.

Bobbi Diehl
Bloomington IN z6

Quoting Nancy Stedman <stedman@RCN.COM>:
What about sarcocca (sweet box)? I don't have much
> space--the beds are only 2-3 feet deep--but I have a little room left.
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