Family Buxaceae
Originating from China

Slender glossy dark green leaves are held with an elegant poise on low arching stems. Each leaf is slightly curved like a claw and narrows to a pointed tip. When seen en-masse in a slowly spreading clump, the foliage gives the plant a bamboo like character, making soft-looking mounds of shiny leaves. This species has so much to offer before we even consider the flowers, with the scent wafting far away from the plant. The small white richly-honey-scented flowers are almost hidden away in the leaf axils and last for many weeks in February, sometimes into March. These are followed by bright red fruits which turn black – a favourite of birds and a valuable source of food for bees and insects in winter. Sarcococcas are an important plant for any garden style, making a dark evergreen backdrop for flower or foliage, creating weed suppressing carpets, and of course, bringing its own aesthetic and aromatic contribution.
In many ways ‘Dragons Gate’ is the best of the genus and like most of the species it is an extremely hardy one, tolerating most soil types, deep shade and dry soil where there is root competition. It even tolerates pollution

Height and spread after 2 – 3 years 50cm x 50cm
Semi mature height and spread after 5 – 6 years 80cm x 1.5m
Spread indefinite