A shrub whose name says it all is the fragrant sweet box (Sarcococca ruscifolia). This shade-loving shrub has ovate, leathery, shiny dark-green leaves that are about 2½ inches long. Fragrant sweet box ...

Sweet box is a low-growing shrub that is especially welcome near the house in winter. It provides evergreen color and lovely white blooms with a sweet scent in late January and early February. (Marci ...

Bloom season: Small, fragrant white blossoms in late winter and early spring. Exposure: Shade or early morning sun. Pruning needs: None. Water needs: Low; once established, water deeply once a month.

Don’t you just hate ­November? Tea-time darkness, nothing pretty in the garden — where’s the joy? December’s no better, apart from Christmas, and January seems to last six weeks. Even so, winter ...