Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Tender Perennial
Origin
China
Southern Africa
Types
-
Perennial
Number of Varieties
350
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Banks, Slopes
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-98-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
10-8
Sunset Zone
21,22
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm61.30 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Ivory
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Purple, Black
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Yellow green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Late Winter
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Pollution, Shade areas
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Semi-hardwood cuttings
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Keep the Soil well drained
Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune in spring, Prune in summer, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, use all-purpose fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Sooty Mold
Nematodes, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought, Pollution, Shade areas
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Food for birds
Ethnobotanic
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits
Root
Other Uses
Food for animals, Showy Purposes
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
SARCOCOCCA confusa
DIETES bicolor
Common Name
Sweet Box
African iris, Fortnight lily
In Hindi
Sarcococca confusa
African Iris
In German
Sarcococca verwirrt
Afrikanische Iris
In French
Sarcococca confus
African Iris
In Spanish
Sarcococca confundido
Iris africano
In Greek
Sarcococca συγχέεται
Αφρικανική Iris
In Portuguese
Sarcococca confuso
Iris africano
In Polish
sarcococca mylić
Afryki Iris
In Latin
confusa Sarcococca
African Iris
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Buxales
Asparagales
Family
Buxaceae
Iridaceae
Genus
Sarcococca
Dietes
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
Irideae
Subfamily
-
Iridoideae
Number of Species
20300
1
27800
👆🏻