Shady Scents
At 1-1/2 to two feet high and four to five feet wide, sweetbox (Sarcococca hookerana var. humilis) makes a wonderful groundcover for shade. Its evergreen foliage looks great all year, and in spring, tiny flowers tucked into the leaf axils give the plant a heady fragrance. The densely foliaged shrub spreads by rhizomes but is not aggressive. Treat this plant as you would an azalea or rhododendron—give it moist, well-drained, organic soil. USDA Zones 5 to 8.
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