Unusually this dwarf sweet box is at its sweetest in the bleak midwinter while the leaves are falling from its deciduous neighbours this shrub39s evergreen foliage sprouts small snowflake45like flowers that eliminate any need for dreaming of a white christmas what39s more these blooms with their sweet vanilla scent are succeeded by festive red berries indeed sarcococca ruscifolia provides such good winter gifts that the plant is often referred to as christmas box throughout