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Field ManualAll plants

Sweet box

Sarcococca Lindl.

Pet & Human Safety

People: No hazard foundPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them
Hazardous parts
Not yet checked.
Preparation
n/a
Hazard type
Not yet checked.
Hazard route
Not stated by our sources (not a clearance)
How complete this information is
The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets
No ASPCA entry found.

No ASPCA genus or species page found for Sarcococca. A whole-genus safety line covers only what the sources state for the genus. Do not treat as pet-safe.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones

Not checked yet

Light

Suited to shaded spots (Trees and Shrubs Online); S. confusa is listed for shade (Oregon State).

Water needs

The level is a plain-language reading of the source wording cited. Always finger-test two inches down.

Mature size

For S. confusa only: 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) tall, densely branched, spreading by underground shoots (Oregon State)

Soil & Drainage
Pruning & Flush Rhythm
Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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Anatomy & Guilds

Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics

How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.

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Field Doctor

Field Doctor

What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.

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Vintage Plates

Vintage Plates

Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.

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Sources

  1. Oregon State University Landscape Plants - Sarcococca (genus page)
  2. Oregon State University Landscape Plants - Sarcococca confusa (one species of the genus, used as an example)
  3. Trees and Shrubs Online (International Dendrology Society) - Sarcococca (genus page)
  4. Kew POWO/WCVP - accepted-name record
  5. ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list

How we choose sources

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