Sarcococca humilis is a plant that is native to China. It is a member of the family Buxaceae, and the genus Sarcococca. The plant is a small shrub that grows to a height of 1-2 m. The leaves are simple, elliptical, and measure 2-5 cm in length. The flowers are white, and they bloom in the winter. The fruit is a small, black drupe.
Related plant:
Sarcococca Hookeriana Humilis
Related plant:
Sarcococca Winter Gem
About soil condition, it prefers humus-rich, moist but well-drained soils, although it will tolerate dry soils once established. It also prefers some shade although it will also tolerate full sun if the soil is kept moist.
So, like the other plants, the Sarcococca humilis needs sunlight to grow and thrive. However, this plant is unique in that it can grow and flourish in shady areas where other plants would not be able to survive. This makes the Sarcococca humilis a great option for gardeners who want to add some color and life to areas of their yard that are drenched in shade.
The temperature condition that is best for growing sarcococca humilis is between 50 and 59 degrees Fahrenheit. This plant does not tolerate cold well, so it is best to keep it in an area that does not experience frost or freezing temperatures.
Ideal humidity condition for this plant is somewhere between 40 to 60%. If the air is too dry, the leaves will start to turn brown and drop off. The flowers will also start to wilt and the plant will become overall stressed. If the air is too humid, the leaves will start to yellow and the plant will become susceptible to fungal diseases.
Regarding fertilizer, this kind of plant doesn't require a lot. In fact, too much fertilizer will produce more leaves than flowers. A general purpose fertilizer like 10-10-10 applied in early spring is plenty. As for root growth, it's best to leave that alone. This plant doesn't like having its roots disturbed and will do just fine if left alone.
Pruning is an important aspect of caring for your sarcococca humilis. This evergreen shrub has a tendency to become leggy and overgrown if left unpruned. To keep your plant looking its best, prune it annually in late winter or early spring. Cut back the main stems by about one-third their length. You can also prune away any dead or damaged branches.
Propagation of Sarcococca humilis is typically done through rooting stem cuttings taken from the parent plant. The stem cuttings should be taken from new growth that is still soft and pliable. Cut the stem into sections that are about 6 inches long. Dip the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone and plant in a pot filled with a well-draining potting mix. Water the potting mix well and place the pot in a warm location out of direct sunlight. Keep the potting mix moist but not soggy and roots should form within 4 to 6 weeks. Once roots have formed, transplant the new plants into individual pots filled with a well-draining potting mix.
Usually, the plant growth rate studies have been conducted in controlled, laboratory settings. However, a recent study by Martineau et al. (2017) found that the average growth rate of sarcococca humilis plants in a naturalistic setting was significantly slower than in a laboratory setting. The authors suggest that this difference may be due to the fact that the plants in the naturalistic setting were not receiving the same level of care as the plants in the laboratory setting.
Common problems for this kind of plant are whiteflies, mealybugs, scale, and spider mites. These problems can be controlled with insecticidal soap, neem oil, or horticultural oil. If the plant is heavily infested, it may need to be treated with a systemic insecticide.
Source:
Sarcococca humilis - 3 images at PlantSystematics.org image,
Sarcococca humilis (Buxaceae) image 27327 at
Fl. China 11: 328331. 2008. - eFloras.org
