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Sarcococca

ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
in Plants
Please could someone tell me how fast this grows?  I have a raised bed (where the soil dries out quickly) that is under an oak canopy and further shaded by a giant (and I do mean GIANT) Fatsia to one side.  I have tried so many plants there over the yrs, but none are very happy.  Ivy is fine and a hosta has managed, but it gets so badly eaten I have taken pity on it and moved it to a pot.  Ferns don't like the location and even the very resilient Carex grasses fail to thrive.  I've tried Begonias (eaten), Impatiens (ditto), Dicentra, and even Epimediums won't flower there (though they manage a few leaves).  So, in desperation, I am considering a Sarcococca.  I would like the small humilis variety and have seen a 4" high specimen in Homebase.  Would it take forever to get to a decent size though?  I also quite like the look of the variety digyna, but have only seen it online and I'm wary of buying evergreens that way, as a poor one may never recover, whereas a perennial is less risky as there is always hope for better growth the next yr. 

Any other ideas welcome.   :)  Something that doesn't grow to more than about 3" up or out ideally and white flowers would be a lovely bonus.   


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  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    A good alternative is Euphorbia amygdaloides robbiae, a tough plant which will tolerate those conditions.  I use it in difficult areas.  It copes well and never gets eaten - the milky sap can be a skin irritant for humans but it seems to keep slugs off!  Nice acid green flowers in spring, spreads slowly but is not invasive and easy to remove.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    Thanks for that idea.  I saw a couple of Euphorbia varieties in Hilliers GC this morning.  How fast does it grow?  These were tiny starter plants. 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    The one I recommended is the best I've used for dry shade, but there are others so check the label or plant details online.  This one grows to a height of about 8 inches, with a similar sized flower spike in Spring.  It will achieve this height within one growing season, depending on your soil and conditions. They are very easy to propagate by division - if you know someone who has one, you can usually pull them up by hand, taking care not to get the milky sap on your hand.  Here's one in the bed in my garden that has been difficult to find suitable plants for!  I've also used a grass, Hakonechloa macra which is fine once established.




    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    Those look beautifully healthy!   Do you cut off the flowers when they've finished? 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I actually like them once they've gone brown and leave them until they're really tatty!  For that variety, you just cut the flower spike down to the closest set of leaves, the plant will then produce new flower spikes the following year.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited August 2023
    @ViewAhead Looking at the list of plants that have struggled @Plantminded has suggested a really tough plant. Phlaris might also be worth a try with euphobia robbie or Vinca minor.
    That is one advantage with a raised bed you can keeps these plants that are thugs in open ground under control. You may already have these plants in your garden, friends may only be too pleased to give you some too. Better not to invest too much in a difficult spot. It is possible that nothing will grow. Improving the soil in the raised bed to make it more moisture retentive is also a consideration.

    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    edited August 2023
    The soil is pretty good with lots of compost, but the bed is 18" high and dries out quickly.   I had never gardened in the ground before moving here, only having had a patio with pots, and I didn't anticipate a raised bed would be different to ground level in terms of moisture.  I have tried Phlaris, but it leans out towards the better light, rather than staying upright.  I have learned that "dark, overhung shade" is a different beast to "shade" generally.   When I put the Fatsia in alongside, it was a one-leaf wonder a few cms tall.  Now it is 4x4 metres!   You live and learn with this gardening lark!  B)

    I've not tried Vinca, so will consider that.  

    P.S.  In my open post I put 3" instead of 3'!  Something about a metre high would be perfect. 


  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I also have some variegated Vinca in that bed, you can just see it in the bottom right hand corner of my photo.  So far it has behaved well, with lovely blue flowers in Spring.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    Ooh, yes, I have spotted it!   :)
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Be careful with the Vinca - the V major tends to take over if you aren't careful  Even the V minor - I have the variegated as mentioned by @Plantminded - will spread when happy tho it is easier to deal with than the v major.
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