Companion Plants for February Interest

Sweet Box & Primroses

It’s often difficult to find steady performers when it comes to winter interest in pots and containers.  Sarcococca ruscifolia (Sweet Box) can be a strong foundation for winter annuals such as Primroses and Pansies.  It provides that hard to find vertical accent that really makes a container noticeable.  Later in the spring or summer you can take the spent Primroses out and add Impatients or Begonias.  If you prefer creating containers that last a few seasons the Sweet Box can become part of a perennial recipe with Hakonechloa and Hellebores.  Sarcococca ruscifolia is particularly nice as a container companion because of it’s light, lace-like texture when young and it’s predictable, sweet fragrance in late winter.  This plant is a versatile actor that shows well in both containers and garden beds the year round.